ĐỀ SỐ 26ENGLISH ETYMOLOGYEtymology is the study of word origins. It is a subiect which seems to hold a remarkable fascination for people, as can be seen from the numerous blogs and Internet sites dedicated (1) _____lengthydiscussions and speculations about the origin of a given word. Below are a few examples of words that are of particular etymological interest. According to the lexicographer, Samuel Johnson, the original meaning of this word suggests somewhat cynically that marriage begins with the sweetness and tenderness of honey, but soon wanes(2) _____ the moon. It still retains those connotations today in the expression honeymoon period which refers to the first stage of a new activity - a government's first term in office, for example - whenpeople are prepared temporarily to ignore (3) _____ imperfections. Nowadays, in the context of marriage, the pessimistic implications have faded and the word simply refers to a holiday taken by anewly married couple. This word originated from Latin, where salarium, a derivative of sal- meaning "salt", referred to "an allowance given to soldiers to buy salt" . In former times salt was a valued commodity, over which wars were (4) _____. It was not taken for (5) _____ as it is today. Use of the word soon broadened out to the current meaning of "fixed periodic payment of work done" and passed in this sense via Anglo-Norman into English. This word describes something stylishly luxurious. In Britain, it also means somebody or something typical (6) _____ the upper classes. It first appeared in the early twentieth (7) _____ and was widely (8) _____ to be an acronym for "Port Out, Starboard Home" referring to the location of the more desirable cabins on passenger ships traveling (9) _____ Britain and India. Those on the port (left) side on the way out, and the starboard (right) on the return trip benefited from the sea breeze and shelter from the sun. (10) _____ it provides a very neat explanation, there isn't a shred of evidence for it. A more plausible solution is that the modern adjective, posh, is the same word as the now obsolete noun posh, meaning "dandy" (a man who cares a lot about his clothes) a slang term current in the late nineteenth century.

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