8/3/2019 Aries 25: A double promise

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Aries 25: A double promiseThe adjective double descends from the Indo-

European (IE) root dwo- which means two . I ts

paronyms include the words balance , between ,

binary , combine , deuce , diploma , double , doubt ,

dubious , duad, dozen , dual , dyad, twelve , twenty ,

twice , twig , twin , twil ight , and t wo . 1

The word promise is comprised of the pref ix

pro- and the base mise . The former descends from the IE root per-1

which is the base of many preverbs, pref ixes , and preposit i ons with the

general meaning of forward, f irst , and through. 2 The American Heritage

Dict ionary of the Engl ish Language l ists over 120 derivatives of per-1

including a f f o rd , approach , approve , f irst , forth , from , pride , priest , prove ,

prime , prince , probe , proton , p ro o f , and property. The base mise , which

means to send descends from the IE root mittere which means to let

go , send off , throw. 3 Paronyms include mass , mess , missi le , message ,

miss ive , Christmas , commit , compromise , dismiss , emit , intermit , omit ,

permit, mission , remit , submit , surmise , and transmit .THEMES: The f irst theme concerns CONSENT . Recal l t h at t h e w or d

approve is one of the paronyms of the pref ix pro- . Among the synonyms

of approve i s consent , a word that is also a synonym of promise . 4

Secondly , recal l that inherent in the word promise is the notion of

ASSURANCE or expec tation. As a verb i ts def init ions include to commit

oneself to by promise to do or give; to af ford a basis for expecting; to

make a declaration that something wil l or wil l not be done. 5 Among i ts

synonyms we f ind the words assure, insure, guarantee and lead to

1W a t k i n s , C . ( 2 0 0 0 ) , T h e A m e r i c a n H e r i t a g e D i c t i o n a r y o f I n d o E u r o p e a n R o o t s , p . 2 1 2W a t k i n s , C . ( 2 0 0 0 ) , T h e A m e r i c a n H e r i t a g e D i c t i o n a r y o f I n d o E u r o p e a n R o o t s , p p . 6 5 - 6 3W a t k i n s , C . ( 2 0 0 0 ) , T h e A m e r i c a n H e r i t a g e D i c t i o n a r y o f I n d o E u r o p e a n R o o t s , p . 5 6 4h t t p : / / t h e s a u r u s . r e f e r e n c e . c o m / b r o w s e / p r o m i s e 5h t t p : / / e d u c a t i o n . y a h o o . c o m / r e f e r e n c e / d i c t i o n a r y / e n t r y / p r o m i s e

http://education.yahoo.com/reference/dictionary/entry/promisehttp://education.yahoo.com/reference/dictionary/entry/promisehttp://education.yahoo.com/reference/dictionary/entry/promisehttp://education.yahoo.com/reference/dictionary/entry/promise

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ex p ect .6 Compare these words with the def init ions of dubious and doubt ,

both of which are paronyms of double : fraught with uncertainty; of

questionable character . 7 The words certain , sure, and def inite are

antonyms of dubious . 8

6h t t p : / / t h e s a u r u s . r e f e r e n c e . c o m / b r o w s e / p r o m i s e 7h t t p : / / e d u c a t i o n . y a h o o . c o m / r e f e r e n c e / d i c t i o n a r y / e n t r y / d u b i o u s 8 h t t p : / / t h e s a u r u s . c o m / b r o w s e / d u b i o us

http://education.yahoo.com/reference/dictionary/entry/dubioushttp://education.yahoo.com/reference/dictionary/entry/dubioushttp://education.yahoo.com/reference/dictionary/entry/dubioushttp://education.yahoo.com/reference/dictionary/entry/dubious