About half of the words in English come from French or Latin. A certain category of French words can be directly translated into English by adapting the spelling and/or pronuciation. For instance, most of the words ending in -toire in French will end in -tory in English, and those in -eux become -ous. For some reason, not all such words were translated, and some were that have since disappeared in French (e.g. compulsory, ubiquitous, obnonxious). Many just keep the exact same spelling, like most words in -ment or in -tion.
As a daily speaker of both languages, I sometimes feel the urge to use such words that exist only in one of the two languages, but could very well exist in the other, or maybe did exist a few centuries ago but have been dropped since then. I just do not understand why such words as "convenir" (to be convenient) and "inconvenient" exist in French, but not "convenient", one of the most common adjectives in the English language.
I would like to propose some new words in English, which I couldn't find in the dictionary but seem to be perfectly fitted for the English language. The purpose is to add nuances which do not exist in English yet.
- exutory => "outlet", but only in the sense of "outlet to someone's feelings", not a shop. Apparently the word used to exist in English (still listed in the 1913 version of the Merriam-Webster), but ceased to be used.
- nocive => "noxious" (it just sounds better)
I wish I could find an equivalent for the missing words in English listed here, but none of them can really be rendered into English by adapting the spelling (possibly "abonnement" or "bricolage").
As a daily speaker of both languages, I sometimes feel the urge to use such words that exist only in one of the two languages, but could very well exist in the other, or maybe did exist a few centuries ago but have been dropped since then. I just do not understand why such words as "convenir" (to be convenient) and "inconvenient" exist in French, but not "convenient", one of the most common adjectives in the English language.
I would like to propose some new words in English, which I couldn't find in the dictionary but seem to be perfectly fitted for the English language. The purpose is to add nuances which do not exist in English yet.
- exutory => "outlet", but only in the sense of "outlet to someone's feelings", not a shop. Apparently the word used to exist in English (still listed in the 1913 version of the Merriam-Webster), but ceased to be used.
- nocive => "noxious" (it just sounds better)
I wish I could find an equivalent for the missing words in English listed here, but none of them can really be rendered into English by adapting the spelling (possibly "abonnement" or "bricolage").