true or false? the etymology of amor?

Question

hi,
i heard that amor actually comes from teh latin ´a´ (the opposite of) and ´mor´ (from death.) Is that true? it does seem like a coincidence! if not, where does it come from?

Answer 1

I'm thinking false - amor is the actual Latin word itself, it does not come from two separate words. Also, the 'a' prefix that negates a word is originally from the Greek. The word for death is mors, so I can see how one would arrive at the conclusion that you did. However, life (vita) is the opposite of death, not love. So if your etymology were correct, amor would have to translate as life in the original Latin.

Answer 2

Of course, the Eros in the Hesiodic Tradition (spawn of Chaos, not the son of Ares and Aphrodite who came later) is described as "deathless." "Amor" is the Roman name for one or both of the Eros figures. IF his Greek *title* of "deathless" were taken as his NAME by later, Latin-speaking peoples, then it *could* have its origin in the Greek.

Answer 3

Your assumption is false.
The stem is "am", hence "amare" to love and "amor", the common noun love.

Answer 4

amicus is friend.