Change from to-day to today
In old books, people often use the spelling "to-day" instead of "today". When did the change happen? Also, when people wrote "to-day", did they feel, when pronouncing the word, that it contained two words, rather than a single concept?
history
asked Sep 10 '12 at 11:34
YujiYuji
510612
add a comment |
In old books, people often use the spelling "to-day" instead of "today". When did the change happen? Also, when people wrote "to-day", did they feel, when pronouncing the word, that it contained two words, rather than a single concept?
history
asked Sep 10 '12 at 11:34
YujiYuji
510612
1
I imagine they felt exactly as I feel when pronouncing "e-mail" as opposed to "email". (Not especially different.)
– Billy
Sep 10 '12 at 16:41
add a comment |
In old books, people often use the spelling "to-day" instead of "today". When did the change happen? Also, when people wrote "to-day", did they feel, when pronouncing the word, that it contained two words, rather than a single concept?
history
asked Sep 10 '12 at 11:34
YujiYuji
510612
In old books, people often use the spelling "to-day" instead of "today". When did the change happen? Also, when people wrote "to-day", did they feel, when pronouncing the word, that it contained two words, rather than a single concept?
history
history
asked Sep 10 '12 at 11:34
YujiYuji
510612
asked Sep 10 '12 at 11:34
YujiYuji
510612
asked Sep 10 '12 at 11:34
YujiYuji
510612
asked Sep 10 '12 at 11:34
YujiYuji
510612
asked Sep 10 '12 at 11:34
YujiYuji
510612
510612
1
I imagine they felt exactly as I feel when pronouncing "e-mail" as opposed to "email". (Not especially different.)
– Billy
Sep 10 '12 at 16:41
add a comment |
1
I imagine they felt exactly as I feel when pronouncing "e-mail" as opposed to "email". (Not especially different.)
– Billy
Sep 10 '12 at 16:41
1
1
I imagine they felt exactly as I feel when pronouncing "e-mail" as opposed to "email". (Not especially different.)
– Billy
Sep 10 '12 at 16:41
I imagine they felt exactly as I feel when pronouncing "e-mail" as opposed to "email". (Not especially different.)
– Billy
Sep 10 '12 at 16:41
add a comment |
3 Answers
3
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Five minutes of research brings...
today
O.E. todæge, to dæge "on (the) day," from to "at, on" (see to) + dæge, dative of dæg "day" (see day). Generally written as two words until 16c., after which it usually was written to-day until early 20c.
Similar constructions exist in other Germanic languages (cf. Du. van daag "from-day," Dan., Swed. i dag "in day"). Ger. heute is from O.H.G. hiutu, from P.Gmc. hiu tagu "on (this) day," with first element from PIE pronomial stem ki-, represented by L. cis "on this side."
The same applies to tomorrow and tonight, at least according to this dictionary.
answered Sep 10 '12 at 11:46
Roaring FishRoaring Fish
14.2k12353
2
Yes, but how did people feel when pronouncing the word(s)?
– James Waldby - jwpat7
Sep 10 '12 at 14:03
6
They felt a warm thrill of confusion, followed by a space-cadet glow.
– Roaring Fish
Sep 10 '12 at 14:38
That's to-boldly-day.
– Edwin Ashworth
Sep 10 '12 at 15:40
Here is evidence that the spelling 'to-day' was still being used in Canada in the 1950's. From The Canadian Jewish Review - Jan 2, 1953: i.stack.imgur.com/y2M95.png
– MJM
Nov 22 '17 at 13:58
add a comment |
I grew up writing 'to-day' and 'week-end' (in 1950s' Britain). Common pairings of words seem, first, to be linked with a hyphen, then to become one word. I did not feel any differently about 'to-day' than I do these days about 'today'.
answered Aug 3 '16 at 21:07
KKJKKJ
311
add a comment |
Only barbarians spell to-day withouy an hyphen
answered 13 mins ago
oberliusoberlius
1
New contributor
oberlius is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
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3 Answers
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Five minutes of research brings...
today
O.E. todæge, to dæge "on (the) day," from to "at, on" (see to) + dæge, dative of dæg "day" (see day). Generally written as two words until 16c., after which it usually was written to-day until early 20c.
Similar constructions exist in other Germanic languages (cf. Du. van daag "from-day," Dan., Swed. i dag "in day"). Ger. heute is from O.H.G. hiutu, from P.Gmc. hiu tagu "on (this) day," with first element from PIE pronomial stem ki-, represented by L. cis "on this side."
The same applies to tomorrow and tonight, at least according to this dictionary.
answered Sep 10 '12 at 11:46
Roaring FishRoaring Fish
14.2k12353
2
Yes, but how did people feel when pronouncing the word(s)?
– James Waldby - jwpat7
Sep 10 '12 at 14:03
6
They felt a warm thrill of confusion, followed by a space-cadet glow.
– Roaring Fish
Sep 10 '12 at 14:38
That's to-boldly-day.
– Edwin Ashworth
Sep 10 '12 at 15:40
Here is evidence that the spelling 'to-day' was still being used in Canada in the 1950's. From The Canadian Jewish Review - Jan 2, 1953: i.stack.imgur.com/y2M95.png
– MJM
Nov 22 '17 at 13:58
add a comment |
Five minutes of research brings...
today
O.E. todæge, to dæge "on (the) day," from to "at, on" (see to) + dæge, dative of dæg "day" (see day). Generally written as two words until 16c., after which it usually was written to-day until early 20c.
Similar constructions exist in other Germanic languages (cf. Du. van daag "from-day," Dan., Swed. i dag "in day"). Ger. heute is from O.H.G. hiutu, from P.Gmc. hiu tagu "on (this) day," with first element from PIE pronomial stem ki-, represented by L. cis "on this side."
The same applies to tomorrow and tonight, at least according to this dictionary.
answered Sep 10 '12 at 11:46
Roaring FishRoaring Fish
14.2k12353
2
Yes, but how did people feel when pronouncing the word(s)?
– James Waldby - jwpat7
Sep 10 '12 at 14:03
6
They felt a warm thrill of confusion, followed by a space-cadet glow.
– Roaring Fish
Sep 10 '12 at 14:38
That's to-boldly-day.
– Edwin Ashworth
Sep 10 '12 at 15:40
Here is evidence that the spelling 'to-day' was still being used in Canada in the 1950's. From The Canadian Jewish Review - Jan 2, 1953: i.stack.imgur.com/y2M95.png
– MJM
Nov 22 '17 at 13:58
add a comment |
Five minutes of research brings...
today
O.E. todæge, to dæge "on (the) day," from to "at, on" (see to) + dæge, dative of dæg "day" (see day). Generally written as two words until 16c., after which it usually was written to-day until early 20c.
Similar constructions exist in other Germanic languages (cf. Du. van daag "from-day," Dan., Swed. i dag "in day"). Ger. heute is from O.H.G. hiutu, from P.Gmc. hiu tagu "on (this) day," with first element from PIE pronomial stem ki-, represented by L. cis "on this side."
The same applies to tomorrow and tonight, at least according to this dictionary.
answered Sep 10 '12 at 11:46
Roaring FishRoaring Fish
14.2k12353
Five minutes of research brings...
today
O.E. todæge, to dæge "on (the) day," from to "at, on" (see to) + dæge, dative of dæg "day" (see day). Generally written as two words until 16c., after which it usually was written to-day until early 20c.
Similar constructions exist in other Germanic languages (cf. Du. van daag "from-day," Dan., Swed. i dag "in day"). Ger. heute is from O.H.G. hiutu, from P.Gmc. hiu tagu "on (this) day," with first element from PIE pronomial stem ki-, represented by L. cis "on this side."
The same applies to tomorrow and tonight, at least according to this dictionary.
answered Sep 10 '12 at 11:46
Roaring FishRoaring Fish
14.2k12353
edited Sep 11 '12 at 5:48
answered Sep 10 '12 at 11:46
Roaring FishRoaring Fish
14.2k12353
answered Sep 10 '12 at 11:46
Roaring FishRoaring Fish
14.2k12353
answered Sep 10 '12 at 11:46
Roaring FishRoaring Fish
14.2k12353
14.2k12353
2
Yes, but how did people feel when pronouncing the word(s)?
– James Waldby - jwpat7
Sep 10 '12 at 14:03
6
They felt a warm thrill of confusion, followed by a space-cadet glow.
– Roaring Fish
Sep 10 '12 at 14:38
That's to-boldly-day.
– Edwin Ashworth
Sep 10 '12 at 15:40
Here is evidence that the spelling 'to-day' was still being used in Canada in the 1950's. From The Canadian Jewish Review - Jan 2, 1953: i.stack.imgur.com/y2M95.png
– MJM
Nov 22 '17 at 13:58
add a comment |
2
Yes, but how did people feel when pronouncing the word(s)?
– James Waldby - jwpat7
Sep 10 '12 at 14:03
6
They felt a warm thrill of confusion, followed by a space-cadet glow.
– Roaring Fish
Sep 10 '12 at 14:38
That's to-boldly-day.
– Edwin Ashworth
Sep 10 '12 at 15:40
Here is evidence that the spelling 'to-day' was still being used in Canada in the 1950's. From The Canadian Jewish Review - Jan 2, 1953: i.stack.imgur.com/y2M95.png
– MJM
Nov 22 '17 at 13:58
2
2
Yes, but how did people feel when pronouncing the word(s)?
– James Waldby - jwpat7
Sep 10 '12 at 14:03
Yes, but how did people feel when pronouncing the word(s)?
– James Waldby - jwpat7
Sep 10 '12 at 14:03
6
6
They felt a warm thrill of confusion, followed by a space-cadet glow.
– Roaring Fish
Sep 10 '12 at 14:38
They felt a warm thrill of confusion, followed by a space-cadet glow.
– Roaring Fish
Sep 10 '12 at 14:38
That's to-boldly-day.
– Edwin Ashworth
Sep 10 '12 at 15:40
That's to-boldly-day.
– Edwin Ashworth
Sep 10 '12 at 15:40
Here is evidence that the spelling 'to-day' was still being used in Canada in the 1950's. From The Canadian Jewish Review - Jan 2, 1953: i.stack.imgur.com/y2M95.png
– MJM
Nov 22 '17 at 13:58
Here is evidence that the spelling 'to-day' was still being used in Canada in the 1950's. From The Canadian Jewish Review - Jan 2, 1953: i.stack.imgur.com/y2M95.png
– MJM
Nov 22 '17 at 13:58
add a comment |
I grew up writing 'to-day' and 'week-end' (in 1950s' Britain). Common pairings of words seem, first, to be linked with a hyphen, then to become one word. I did not feel any differently about 'to-day' than I do these days about 'today'.
answered Aug 3 '16 at 21:07
KKJKKJ
311
add a comment |
I grew up writing 'to-day' and 'week-end' (in 1950s' Britain). Common pairings of words seem, first, to be linked with a hyphen, then to become one word. I did not feel any differently about 'to-day' than I do these days about 'today'.
answered Aug 3 '16 at 21:07
KKJKKJ
311
add a comment |
I grew up writing 'to-day' and 'week-end' (in 1950s' Britain). Common pairings of words seem, first, to be linked with a hyphen, then to become one word. I did not feel any differently about 'to-day' than I do these days about 'today'.
answered Aug 3 '16 at 21:07
KKJKKJ
311
I grew up writing 'to-day' and 'week-end' (in 1950s' Britain). Common pairings of words seem, first, to be linked with a hyphen, then to become one word. I did not feel any differently about 'to-day' than I do these days about 'today'.
answered Aug 3 '16 at 21:07
KKJKKJ
311
answered Aug 3 '16 at 21:07
KKJKKJ
311
answered Aug 3 '16 at 21:07
KKJKKJ
311
answered Aug 3 '16 at 21:07
KKJKKJ
311
311
add a comment |
add a comment |
Only barbarians spell to-day withouy an hyphen
answered 13 mins ago
oberliusoberlius
1
New contributor
oberlius is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
add a comment |
Only barbarians spell to-day withouy an hyphen
answered 13 mins ago
oberliusoberlius
1
New contributor
oberlius is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
add a comment |
Only barbarians spell to-day withouy an hyphen
answered 13 mins ago
oberliusoberlius
1
New contributor
oberlius is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
Only barbarians spell to-day withouy an hyphen
answered 13 mins ago
oberliusoberlius
1
New contributor
oberlius is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
answered 13 mins ago
oberliusoberlius
1
New contributor
oberlius is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
answered 13 mins ago
oberliusoberlius
1
answered 13 mins ago
oberliusoberlius
1
1
New contributor
oberlius is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
New contributor
oberlius is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
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Check out our Code of Conduct.
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1
I imagine they felt exactly as I feel when pronouncing "e-mail" as opposed to "email". (Not especially different.)
– Billy
Sep 10 '12 at 16:41