did u know that the word 'news' as in what u see on tv like to find out infomation u read or news well news is an acronym for NORTH, EAST, WEST AND SOUTH it makes alot of sense because they find news from all over the world as in a compass haha i never knew that i only found it out yesterday what do u think???????
2006-10-15 23:56:10 · 25 answers · asked by !!David!! 2 in News & Events ➔ Other - News & Events
That is truly amazing.
Wow.
So, let me seee if I got this...the word NEWS is actually an acronym for the 4 directions?
Jeez.
And after all this time!
Unbelievable.
Hmmm.
Thank you.
I will use this knowledge to improve the size of my brain...and I didn't think that was possible. LOL
2006-10-16 00:08:29 · answer #1 · answered by jkv1111 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
"News" developed as a special use of the plural form of "new" in the 14th century. In Middle English, the equivalent word was 'newes', based on the French 'nouvelles'.
It is not, as is often claimed, an acronym for "north, east, west, south" -wikipedia
what you are refering to is a quote by Benjamin Disraeli. -
"News is that which comes from the North, East, West and South, and if it comes from only one point on the compass, then it is a class ; publication and not news"
2006-10-16 23:00:01 · answer #2 · answered by faithbass 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yeah, I knew it long time ago. At first, I was impressed that the NEWS came from North East West South. Because if you'll look at it, news might came from the plural of the word 'new' but it sounds so silly. Haha!
2006-10-16 07:01:49 · answer #3 · answered by sirius_black2329 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I was surprised too and checked in Ask Oxford it says:
What is the origin of the word 'news'?
The original sense of news was 'new things'; this is long obsolete. Since the 15th century it has been used to mean 'tidings, the report of recent events, new occurrences as a subject or report or talk.'
The adjective new goes back to Old English.
I suppose it's like "fornication under consent of the king". There's another one I can't remember for golf.
2006-10-16 07:18:41 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
No, I don't think you're right. If "news" was an acronym for NORTH, EAST, WEST and SOUTH, then what happened with the adjective "new"? Actually, I believe the word "news" comes from the adj. "new". And "new" comes from the Greek word "νÎοÏ, νÎα, νÎο"(neos, nea, neo), which are the masculine, the feminine and the neutral forms of the Greek adjective which means "new".
2006-10-16 07:08:41 · answer #5 · answered by firefly 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Interesting, if, in all likelihood, b*llocks. The derivation of the word is sometimes debated and indeed sometimes that theory is put forward. However, the vast majority of experts in the derivation of words come down on the side of the word being derived as a contraction of 'new items' or 'new facts' reflecting the immutable truth that news items are things that have just happened.....
2006-10-16 07:10:18 · answer #6 · answered by eriverpipe 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Sorry but NO!!! the original sense of the word ''news'' was ''new things''-this is long obsolete.Since the 15th century it has been used to mean ''tidings'',the report of recent events,new occurrences as a subject or report or talk!!!!!!!!!
2006-10-16 07:53:16 · answer #7 · answered by pasky 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Wow thats nice to know. Thanx 4 that!
2006-10-16 07:11:08 · answer #8 · answered by Gentlehero 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Sorry David, but yes, we did know this.
It is such an old trivia question, why did you think we wouldn't have heard of it ?
2006-10-16 07:05:48 · answer #9 · answered by Michael H 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I never knew that> I guess it is true that we learn something new everyday..Thanks for sharing.
2006-10-16 07:04:49 · answer #10 · answered by sunshine 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋