Equal adj: About 1390, borrowed from Latin Aequalis uniform, identical, equal, from
aequus level, even, just. A parallel
form egal equal, equivalent (obsolete
in English since the 1650’s) was widely used in Middle English, recorded in
1380, and borrowed from Old French egal,
igal from Latin Aequalis. –N. 1573, one who is equal to another from
the adjective. –V. 1586, compare, liken; from the noun. The sense
of match, rival, appeared in 1950. –Equality:1398
equalite, borrowed from the Old
French Equalite, from Latin Auqualitatem, from Aequalis equal
Analysis
The word equality at its root means uniform, identical, or equal. Back when the word originated, this would likely mean uniform size, identical shape, or equal amounts of something. This would be helpful when trading to ensure that people are not getting ripped off or when an individual is trying to make a similar product to another. For example, a blacksmith trying to make an identical weapon as another blacksmith, or one or the same quality.
As time went on, eventually the term began to also mean equal to another, which led to things like equal rights and equality among gender, and race. Rather than objects being equal in worth or size/shape, people became equal to each other. They might not be the same, but individuals felt that they should have the same things, the same rights, as others. This equality of rights is what comes to mind when the word equality is spoken today. Not uniform or identical, both definitions that have become obsolete. When people say equality, they aren't talking about things that are uniform or identical, they usually mean rights of some sort. Equal is still used to mean identical, but not as often.
As time went on, eventually the term began to also mean equal to another, which led to things like equal rights and equality among gender, and race. Rather than objects being equal in worth or size/shape, people became equal to each other. They might not be the same, but individuals felt that they should have the same things, the same rights, as others. This equality of rights is what comes to mind when the word equality is spoken today. Not uniform or identical, both definitions that have become obsolete. When people say equality, they aren't talking about things that are uniform or identical, they usually mean rights of some sort. Equal is still used to mean identical, but not as often.
Works Cited
Barnhart, Robert K. The Barnhart Concise
Dictionary of Etymology. New York: HarperCollins, 1995. Print.
Since this is an analysis, I think you should bring more of your ideas into it. Use the etymology and tell us how do you think this present day definition arose. You can even do more research to expand this like when exactly did equality morph it's meaning. You should also describe why you think the past definitions have been obsolete.
ReplyDeleteI like your etymology, but I feel that you continue your "etymology" into your analysis. I feel that you should be analyzing your etymology more in your analysis rather than continuing your etymology into the analysis.
ReplyDeleteYour etymology explains the meaning clearly of how the word came to be, however it would be better if you had more than one source so that you can get a better idea (or at least a more believable idea to the reader).
ReplyDeleteAs Jennifer said, bring your ideas into this. Make sure to bring your idea that you are arguing.
I will try to bring my own ideas into my analysis, and I agree that research would help in this so I will try to do that as well as I can under my current time limits. I would consider having more sources for the etymology, however, I have done no research for this particular page aside from the etymology and any other etymology is the same, so I feel like it would be redundant. I appreciate the comments nonetheless.
ReplyDeleteI am writing an article entitled "Equality is an illusion" and this analysis has helped me to embellish the article. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteI am writing an article entitled "Equality is an illusion" and this analysis has helped me to embellish the article. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteAs a student...i find this very useful in explaining about equality... Thank u
ReplyDelete