Mysteries of vernacular: Venom - Jessica Oreck and Rachael Teel

词源探秘: 毒液（Venom） - Jessica Oreck 和 Rachael Teel

Transcriber: Andrea McDonough Reviewer: Jessica Ruby

翻译人员: Ning Zhang 校对人员: Binglei Shea

Mysteries of vernacular:

字源探秘：

Venom,

毒液（Venom）

the poisonous fluid secreted by animals,

一种有毒的液体

like snakes and scorpions,

由蛇蝎等动物分泌出来

typically transmitted by bite or sting.

通常经由口咬或叮刺的方式

As vile as the word is now,

虽然现在这个字令人厌恶

the history of venom begins

但它的历史可追溯至

with the pleasant Indo-European root wen,

有着美好含义的印欧语词根“wen”

which meant to desire or strive for.

它是指渴望或力争的意思

Perhaps, not surprisingly, wen also generated

或者你也不会惊讶，“wen”也衍生出

a number of amiable modern words,

不少讨人喜爱的现代资

like win

比如胜利（win）

or wish.

或愿望（wish）

Wenes, a form of the original root,

“Wenes”是原本词根的一个形态

was tailored to the mythology of the time,

过去是专为了当时的神话而创造的

and applied to the Roman goddess of love, Venus,

并用于罗马爱神（Venus）身上

known to the Greeks as Aphrodite

希腊人称她为阿芙罗黛蒂(Aphrodite)

and to the Egyptians as Hathor.

埃及人则称她为哈索尔(Hathor)

From this milieu of amore,

在这充满爱的氛围下

the word wenesom emerged,

"Wenesom" 这词就诞生了

meaning love potion.

它意指“爱的毒药”

Over time, wenesom became venenum,

随着时间，"Wenesom"慢慢变成了 "Venenum"

a word that specifically described potions or medicines

这个词特别用作形容会在病人身上

that evoked intense physical reactions from the patient.

引起剧烈物理反应的药剂或药物

The definition of venenum

"Venenum" 的定义

eventually narrowed to refer solely

渐渐缩小到仅仅指

to poisonous concoctions,

有毒的药汁

a shift that puts us within striking distance

这个字义的转变使得我们

of the word under investigation.

与正在探究的那个词的距离接近了

A bit of shortening

只是缩短了一点点

and a slight distinction in source

以及来源有一些区别

brings us to venom,

我们便会得到毒液(venom)

a deadly fluid that comes from a snake

这致命液体是由蛇而来的

rather than a pharmacist.

而非药剂师