> Or even pedagogical :) I wrote "hermeneutical" -- similar
> idea, different word. Also, you may be uncomfortable with
> the term "folk etymology" but that seems to be the standard
> term for non-philological etymologies.

Sorry, I'm not much of a scholar... It's not that I'm uncomfortable with the
term "folk etymology", it's the disrespect for the Venerable Buddhaghosa and
Dhammapaala implied by using the term to describe their etymologies.
Certainly they were not "folk", nor did they consult "folk" sources for
their etymologies. In fact it seems like the commentarial etymologies often
go counter to the folk definitions of the words. Pu~n~na = "santaana.m
punaati visodheti" Maybe you could find another "standard term" for
non-philological etymologies? How about calling them "non-philological
etymologies"?

> > Would you want etymologies like dhamma = "the duty of one's
> social class"?
> That is a definition, valid in some contexts, not an
> etymology. An etymology would give the verbal root DH.R and
> its presumed meaning.

Sorry, I just meant to say that one word can be used in many different ways
by different groups of people. Whereas we in the West look at the
importance of historical etymologies, the Buddhist commentaries didn't seem
so inclined in all cases. For instance the word "gandhabba" which we've had
before, simply means "gantabba" to the commentarial tradition. How about
the one I gave above for pu~n~na? Fanciful? Maybe, but it sure has changed
the way I look at Thai merit-making...

I don't have a problem with terms and words, but I wonder at the causticity
of some of the criticisms offered up in this newsgroup towards reverend
elders who, though long passed-away, had such great compassion for later
generations that they took the time to painstakingly compose such lucid
manuals for the practice of the Buddha's teaching (that do actually work if
you put your heart into it!). Buddhaghosa's work has helped a great amount
in spreading the Buddha's teaching to the world. It's a shame people can't
see that.

Anyway, I suppose that's enough rant for one day :) may all be happy,

Yuttadhammo