Maybe I'm a bit of a saddo but I've always been curious about the origins of certain words, especially in English where we have such a diverse history over the past 1000 years or so. Anyway I subscribe to a daily news letter called A.Word.A.Day and as todays word is "avatar" and it's in daily usage here, I thought I may as well share it's meaning and origin. Although I knew it was something to do with a picture, I knew nothing more about it than that.

 

 

avatar (AV-uh-tahr) noun

 

1. A manifestation of a deity in Hinduism.

 

2. An embodiment of a concept.

 

3. A representation of a person or thing in computers, networks, etc.

 

[From avatar (descent, as of a god from heaven to the earth), from ava-

(away) + tarati (he crosses).]

 

"Nearly forgotten today, Downing was a national avatar of taste, a sort of

cross between Martha Stewart and Frank O. Gehry and was the likely

choice ..."

Kevin Baker; The Daily, Death-Defying Commute; The New York Times;

Oct 17, 2003.

 

"The idea was to demonstrate the levels of service on Alaska Airlines by

contrasting them with an avatar of how not to run an airline."

Airline Fires Back at Low-cost Rivals; International Herald Tribune

(France); Oct 19, 2003.

 

This week's theme: words derived from Sanskrit.

Originally posted by AndyP

Maybe I'm a bit of a saddo

 

 

What do you mean maybe? JK:D

Next weeks words will be specialising on the origins of insulting words for those from North of the Border ! ;)

Andy you need to get out a little more mate :p :D

Originally posted by AndyP

Next weeks words will be specialising on the origins of insulting words for those from North of the Border ! ;)

 

Go on Andy, set them a challenge...

 

 

... make them spell them as well. :D

 

Tim