Ugly people hate the beautiful and want to tear them down?

What is beautiful?

To strike, dhwel, dwel— to fight, or to strike.

1. Counter strike
2. street fighter
3. street striker

Polemos

• Mache: Battle, fight
• ares: warlike strife

Yes, the word πόλεμος (pólemos), meaning “war,” is indeed used in Homer’s Iliad, which is one of the most famous epic poems about war in ancient Greek literature. The Iliad is centered on the events of the Trojan War, and as such, the term pólemos appears throughout the text to describe the overarching theme of battle and conflict between the Greeks and Trojans.

However, Homer often uses other related terms to describe battle, combat, and strife. For example:

• μάχη (machÄ“) means “battle” or “fight,” and is frequently used when referring to individual combat or a specific clash within the larger context of war.
• ἄρης (arÄ“s) refers to warlike strife, and it is also the name of the Greek god of war, Ares.

In the Iliad, pólemos specifically refers to the larger concept of war as a whole, while other words like machē or ponos (toil or labor) are used to describe specific acts or events within the war.

Example from the Iliad:

In Book 6 of the Iliad, pólemos is used when Hector, the Trojan prince, speaks of the unending war that keeps him from staying with his family, emphasizing the relentless nature of the conflict.

Thus, pólemos is not only present but central to the narrative of the Iliad, framing the entire story around the destructive and all-encompassing nature of war.

The Greek equivalent of the Latin word “bellum” (meaning “war”) is “πόλεμος” (pólemos).

Etymology of Pólemos:

• Pólemos (πόλεμος) means “war” or “battle” in Ancient Greek and has deep roots in Indo-European languages. Its etymological origin is connected to the Proto-Indo-European root pelÉ™, meaning “to drive, thrust, or strike,” which gives it a similar sense of conflict and combat as the Latin bellum.

Usage in Greek:

• In Greek mythology, Pólemos was personified as a minor deity representing war, often mentioned alongside the more well-known god of war, Ares (Άρης).
• The term pólemos was frequently used in both historical and philosophical contexts. For example, the historian Thucydides wrote extensively about war in his account of the Peloponnesian War (Πόλεμος τῶν Πελοποννησίων), and Greek philosophers like Heraclitus famously said, “War (pólemos) is the father of all things,” indicating the central role of conflict in the cosmos and human society.

Related Terms:

• Polemic: From Greek polemikos (πολεμικός), meaning “warlike” or “hostile,” which in modern usage refers to a strong verbal or written argument.
• Hoplite: A heavily armed foot soldier in Ancient Greece, deriving from hoplon (ὅπλον), meaning “weapon,” which is closely associated with war.

In Greek culture, pólemos was as essential to their worldview as bellum was to the Romans, and it has similarly left its mark on modern language, particularly in terms relating to conflict and debate.

Bellum etymology and history

The word “bellum” in Latin means “war” and has an interesting etymological history. Its root, development, and usage reflect both linguistic evolution and the cultural importance of war in ancient times.

Etymology of Bellum:

1. Proto-Indo-European Roots: The word bellum is thought to originate from the Proto-Indo-European root dÊ°wel- or dwel-, which means “to strike” or “fight.” This root emphasizes the concept of physical conflict or violent engagement, which underpins the word’s meaning in Latin.
2. Shift in Form: While bellum is the Latin word for war, it is likely a later, softened form of the older Latin term duellum. Duellum is an archaic word that also means “war,” but it bears a closer resemblance to the Indo-European root dwel- (to strike). Over time, duellum evolved into bellum as the sounds changed for reasons of linguistic ease, a process known as disassimilation, where similar sounds become less alike in order to facilitate pronunciation.
3. Historical Usage in Latin:

• Bellum was commonly used in the classical Latin of Ancient Rome, where war played a central role in society, governance, and expansion.
• Latin phrases such as bellum civile (civil war), bellum iustum (just war), and bellum gerere (to wage war) illustrate how central the concept of war was in Roman law, politics, and philosophy.
• Cicero, for example, often used the term in his writings on war and peace, discussing bellum as both a legal and moral concept.

Related Words:

Several Latin terms derived from bellum continue to have significance in modern languages:

• Bellicose: From Latin bellicosus, meaning “warlike” or “inclined to fight.”
• Belligerent: From Latin belliger, meaning “waging war” (from bellum + gerere, to wage).
• Rebellion: From the Latin rebellio, meaning “renewal of war” or “uprising” (from re- + bellum).

Influence on Modern Languages:

The word bellum has influenced various modern languages, particularly through legal and military terms derived from Latin. English, for instance, inherited many terms related to war from Latin via Old French, such as:

• Rebellion: From rebellio (as mentioned earlier).
• Belligerent: Through Middle French, meaning someone who is engaged in or ready for conflict.

Historical Context:

• In Roman culture, bellum was not only a practical concept but also a legal and moral one. The Romans had complex ideas about bellum iustum (just war), debating when wars were justified, how they should be conducted, and what the moral implications were.
• The word also featured prominently in Roman mythology and history, with Mars, the god of war, playing a central role in their pantheon. Military conflict and expansion were central to Roman identity, and terms related to war permeated both their language and their legal system.

Summary:

• Bellum originates from the Proto-Indo-European root dwel-, meaning “to strike” or “fight.”
• It is derived from an older form duellum, which later evolved into bellum due to linguistic shifts.
• The word played a central role in Roman culture, reflecting their focus on military conquest and the legalities of warfare.
• It has influenced many modern words related to war and conflict, particularly in English and other European languages.

The evolution of bellum reflects both its linguistic history and the centrality of warfare in Roman society and thought.

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Beautiful etymology and history, and bellum, war?

Bella, bellum— war!

The Latin words bellum (meaning “war”) and bella (meaning “wars” in the plural form) are directly connected as different grammatical forms of the same root word.

Connection Between Bellum and Bella:

• Bellum is the singular form of the Latin word for “war.”
• Bella is the plural form of bellum, meaning “wars.”

Latin nouns follow specific declension patterns, and bellum is a neuter noun in the second declension. Here’s a breakdown of the forms for bellum (war):

• Singular: bellum – war
• Plural: bella – wars

In Latin, nouns change their endings to indicate number (singular or plural) and case (the grammatical role the noun plays in the sentence). For bellum (second-declension neuter noun), the plural form is bella.

Examples of Usage:

• Bellum civile: Civil war (singular)
• Bella civilia: Civil wars (plural)

To clarify, this is entirely separate from the earlier discussion about bellus (meaning “beautiful”) and its derivatives. Despite the similar appearance of bellum and bella (wars) and bellus (beautiful), these words are etymologically unrelated.

In summary, bellum (war) and bella (wars) are grammatically related as singular and plural forms of the same Latin word for war.