Wanting to start this erudite exploration into the genesis of words and phrases! Those that we are so well aquatinted and know the purpose for- but come across in their history as strange, quaint or just startling!! In the language English and all others! All are welcome to contribute, correct, contradict !!
Id start with these one:
Catharsis: known to me as purging/removal of a body part , usually cancerous etc. Came across recently as the pope sponsored genocide of an entire decimation of the tribe of cathars - in France- for their refusal to toe the line of parity of son of god and god as equal!! While devout Christians, they had to be culled - against the Christian spirit of brotherhood- in the name of protecting Christianity!! Rings a meaning to the present status of the word?!
The Great Game: and I thought it was about hunting game in Africa!! Looks like it meant the drawing room/parlor games between Gr. Britain and France- keeping Germany out- about dividing the rest if world between themselves!! Led to to world wars, I reckon!!
The " Boys" played well!!: etc.!! The phrase referred by captains, boss managers , team owners etc!! Referring themselves as other than them!! Well, the term comes from apartheid Africa- the landowners referring the slave help as boys- not deeming them fit to be equal- men!! It does sound different when viewed like that, no?! The term is now used in Hindi too- " apne ladken Bhej doonga"- I shall send my boys!!
Assassins : Now, this one is cool!! This is after a Islamic sect in former Mesopotamia, now in about Syria.The people of this sect have lifestyle that includes liberal usage of "Hashish" - dope!! & therefore the reference to them as 'Hashashians' - anglicized to Assassins.These were used by the British rulers of that time for doing what assassins now are known to do!!
