Loved the story on the Greek cups! Echoes of my college days hanging out in the East Village. I answered "other" to your survey. Tbh, I am new to this newsletter and haven't been following your senior feature, but I'm wondering why this feature is age-specific. Why not ask questions of people of any age? Lastly, I hope it isn't rude to o…
Loved the story on the Greek cups! Echoes of my college days hanging out in the East Village. I answered "other" to your survey. Tbh, I am new to this newsletter and haven't been following your senior feature, but I'm wondering why this feature is age-specific. Why not ask questions of people of any age? Lastly, I hope it isn't rude to offer a correction, but there is no "n" in the word, "restaurateur." Weird, I know. Ever since I was first corrected a few years back, I've wondered why this is, as it makes no sense to my English-speaking ear. So, at long last, I did a little digging myself and discovered that the history of this word is not what you--or anyone else, for that matter--might think. I thought this story would appeal to your sleuthing spirit:
"restauratrice" -- Not getting into gender issues (language or otherwise), but I find these 'feminine' versions of words to be poetically lovely, look- and sound-wise, that is. Chatelaine is another one. And in religion, varieties abound -- Advocatrix, Mediatrix, Redemptrix, etc.
Loved the story on the Greek cups! Echoes of my college days hanging out in the East Village. I answered "other" to your survey. Tbh, I am new to this newsletter and haven't been following your senior feature, but I'm wondering why this feature is age-specific. Why not ask questions of people of any age? Lastly, I hope it isn't rude to offer a correction, but there is no "n" in the word, "restaurateur." Weird, I know. Ever since I was first corrected a few years back, I've wondered why this is, as it makes no sense to my English-speaking ear. So, at long last, I did a little digging myself and discovered that the history of this word is not what you--or anyone else, for that matter--might think. I thought this story would appeal to your sleuthing spirit:
https://blog.ciachef.edu/what-happened-to-the-n-in-restaurateur/#:~:text=The%20spelling%20doesn't%20seem,The%20proper%20spelling%20is%20restaurateur.
Restaurateur. Restaurateur. That is so WEIRD Gillian but you're right! It is fixed. Thank you Gillian!
For those moving too fast to click the link, the word actually derives from the French word “restaurer,” a verb meaning to restore, repair, or renew.
And so fun to learn that the feminine variation was "restauratrice!"
What amazed me most was that the origins of the word "restaurant" are medical! A place that sold healing soups! Who knew?
Wow!!! Thanks!!! This newsletter is so educational in so many ways. Very cool.
Leave it to the French! LOL
"restauratrice" -- Not getting into gender issues (language or otherwise), but I find these 'feminine' versions of words to be poetically lovely, look- and sound-wise, that is. Chatelaine is another one. And in religion, varieties abound -- Advocatrix, Mediatrix, Redemptrix, etc.