Mysteries of vernacular: Venom - Jessica Oreck and Rachael Teel

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

Transcriber: Andrea McDonough Reviewer: Jessica Ruby

譯者: Yuen-Lam Tsang 審譯者: Ning Zhang

Mysteries of vernacular:

字源探秘：

Venom,

毒液 (Venom)

the poisonous fluid secreted by animals,

一種有毒的液體

like snakes and scorpions,

由蛇蠍等動物分泌出來

typically transmitted by bite or sting.

通常經由口咬或叮刺的方式

As vile as the word is now,

雖然現在這個字令人厭惡

the history of venom begins

但它的歷史可追溯至

with the pleasant Indo-European root wen,

有著美好含義的印歐語字根 "wen"

which meant to desire or strive for.

它是指渴望或力爭的意思

Perhaps, not surprisingly, wen also generated

或者你也不會驚訝，"wen" 也衍生出

a number of amiable modern words,

不少討人喜愛的現代字

like win

比如勝利（win）

or wish.

或願望（wish）

Wenes, a form of the original root,

"Wenes" 是原本字根的一個型態

was tailored to the mythology of the time,

過去是為了當時的神話而訂造的

and applied to the Roman goddess of love, Venus,

並用於羅馬愛神維納斯 (Venus) 身上

known to the Greeks as Aphrodite

希臘人稱她為阿芙蘿黛蒂 (Aphrodite)

and to the Egyptians as Hathor.

埃及人則稱她為哈索爾 (Hathor)

From this milieu of amore,

在這充滿愛的氛圍下

the word wenesom emerged,

"Wenesom" 這字誕生了

meaning love potion.

它意指「愛的毒藥」

Over time, wenesom became venenum,

隨著時間， "Wenesom" 慢慢變成了 "Venenum"

a word that specifically described potions or medicines

這個字特別用作形容會在病人身上

that evoked intense physical reactions from the patient.

引起劇烈物理反應的藥劑或藥物

The definition of venenum

"Venenum" 的定義

eventually narrowed to refer solely

漸漸收窄到僅指

to poisonous concoctions,

有毒的藥汁

a shift that puts us within striking distance

這個字義轉移把我們拉近到

of the word under investigation.

接近我們正在探究的那個字身邊

A bit of shortening

只是縮短了一點點

and a slight distinction in source

以及來源有些少分別

brings us to venom,

我們便會得到毒液 (venom)

a deadly fluid that comes from a snake

這致命液體是由蛇而來的

rather than a pharmacist.

而非藥劑師