retired_mnw_cna

I have just referred in another thread to someone looking gormless, and it got me thinking: what exactly is gorm? I've tried looking it up at dictionary.com to no great avail. I mean, I know gormless is used in the sense of being thick, but how come we have retained the negative of the word without keeping gorm?

There are others like it: inert, disshevelled, nonchalant, uncouth. I'm sure there must be loads others that aren't coming into my brain right now. Any suggestions?

And then there's (in)flammable, where the negative and positive versions means exactly the same thing. How tf did that come about?

Sad that I'm interested by the etymology and such like, but there you go.

BarryLFC

You have gorm, my friend.

retired_chinioti22

Gorm originated from the ancient Gaum or Gome, meaning attention. Gaumless obviously meaning lack of attention. Incidentally in southern USA, gome means either axle grease or 'a man' and gaum means to smudge. Obviously Gaumless evolved to mean stupid, and better words were created for attention, like 'attention'.

I looked all that up just now, because I'm bored.

retired_linton_justin

ruthless. what is ruth?

retired_chinioti22

reuthe = pity or compassion

retired_gozadera2007

Can you be kempt? Or ept?

retired_princesspouty

Yes, you can.

retired_chinioti22

Indeed you can be kempt (well-combed, neat), or at least you could in the 1400s.

retired_gozadera2007

No wonder Retro was straight on it...

retired_nini59

flammable and inflammable don't mean exactly the same thing btw, like famous and infamous don't.