Re: log - how it developed?

Dan,
My thanks for your reply. My issue with legh- is simply this:
Considering the other terms and meanings which derive from legh-, the
development of lag/log as meaning a law (aka a social rule) or some
other concept of justice/rights --- is somewhat of a unique
development (as no other legh- derivatives carry such a meaning).

When I noted that the neighboring term leg- means 'to speak' and
gives rise to the Latin lex (law); it makes me wonder whether AHDIER
might be wrong and that lag/log truly stems from leg-.

Sincerely,
Aydan

--- In cybalist@yahoogroups.com, "Daniel J. Milton" <dmilt1896@...>
wrote:

> --- In cybalist@yahoogroups.com, "A." <xthanex@...> wrote:
> > I am trying to understand how *legh- 'that which is (physically)
> laid
> > down' came to mean "law".
> > At first it looks like a rather simple progression, but when I
> > examine the other terms derived from *legh- I see such entries as:
> > OE lecgan = to lay
> > OE belecgan = to cover or surround
> > OHG legar = bed, lair
> > ON lagr = low
> > Germanic *lega = lying flat
> > OHG laga = the act of laying
> >
> > I see that AHDIER states law derives from ON *lagu, lag- = that
> which
> > is set down.
> >
> >
> > What I wonder is how a term describing such a physical act of
> placing
> > something down - came to mean the conceptual act of establish

laws.

> >
> > Can anyone help clarify this for me please?
> >
> > Could it also possibly be that our current theory is incorrect;

and

> > that "log" stems not from 'legh' but rather from 'leg 1' meaning
> 'to
> > speak'??
> > I don't see leg-1 producing o-grade forms in the Germanic

tongues,

> > but the association with 'lex' and the thought of law as being a
> > decree, combine to make me wonder about such a possibility.
> >
> > As always, any help would be greatly appreciated!
> >
> > Regards,
> > -Aydan
> ***********
> I really don't see your problem. I must have heard hundreds of
> times the colloquial English for someone who uttered firm strictures
> regarding the behavior of others, "He laid down the law", and never
> before questioned its appropriateness. Of course, the alliteration
> that spices the phrase wouldn't have been there when the ancestral
> word for "law" took on its meaning.
> For what it's worth, the ON 'log' was a plural, with a singular
> that meant other things, but not law.
> Dan Milton