I’m away next week so I decided to plan a recap of some of the more popular #WordNerdWednesday posts while I’m gone. Of course, that made me wonder why we call it a “recap.” (I’m not joking. This is how my brain works.)
“Recap” is a shortened version of “recapitulate,” which means to sum up or group under a series of headings. It’s based on Latin “re-” (again) and “capitulum” (chapter).
That makes sense, but it surprised me. “Capitulate”- without the prefix – means “surrender.” They come from the same root word. Why are their meaning’s so different?
Here’s what I learned.
In the 16th-17th centuries, “capitulation” was was often associated with a specific type of summary – the terms under which an enemy was to surrender. It was used this way so often that the accepted meaning shifted.
As a Medieval history buff I know how many battles, big and small, were going on in the English speaking world at that time. That fighting perspective seems to have shaped their perspective on everything, including language.
With that tangent over, it’s back to creating that recap post. If you have a favorite WNW entry from the past you think I should include, let me know!
