2007-01-09 02:05:46 · 4 answers · asked by Topper 1 in Education & Reference ➔ Words & Wordplay
This is a case where an archaic word remains fossilized in a word still in use. "Luke" is a Middle English form of the Old English "hléow" meaning warm or sunny.
From a poem c.1205: ". . . And opened wes his breoste. Tha blod com forth luke. . ."
By the late 14th century, the word "lukewarm" had made its appearance, with a shift in meaning to tepid. From John de Trevisa's "Bartholomeus" of that year: " . . . The broth of clete . . . comfortyth the teeth: yf it be luke warme hote holde in the mouth. . . "
(Source: Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd Edition)
2007-01-09 02:13:59 · answer #1 · answered by Maggie G 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
If I were blonde, I would tell you about this guy named Luke who always ran a temperature of 104 degrees. It was so constant that his temp became known as "luke warm". But since I am not a blonde I will just say, I don't really know.
2007-01-09 10:11:58 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
The term goes back to the 13th century and is derived from Old English 'hleow' which, with various prefixes, was used to describe levels of warmth
2007-01-09 10:11:40 · answer #3 · answered by GL 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
According to the OED online, it derives from the Old English "hlew", which meant weak. (The word "limhlew" described a weak limb)
2007-01-09 10:11:00 · answer #4 · answered by bonshui 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋