Saturday, 26 March 2011

Vegetarian - etymology

The etymology of the word 'Vegetarian' ... is from vegetāre the Latin present active infinitive of vegeto
http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/vegeto#Latin
I arouse, enliven, quicken, animate, invigorate

The idea was that, on a diet of vegetables, once feels more alive, quickened, animated and invigorated.

The word 'Vegetable' is also derived from vegeto and -ābilis ... something that is "able to live and grow".

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