Why is atheist spelled A-T-H-E-I-S-T instead of A-T-H-I-E-S-T?
There's no C in atheist.
2007-02-20 03:36:02 · 10 answers · asked by Maurice H 6 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
English is just a screwy language. My 7 year old just shakes her head and mutters about the crazy people who made this stuff up....
2007-02-20 03:43:06 · answer #1 · answered by Jensenfan 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
That's not the general rule.
This is the general rule:
i before e
except after c
or when sounding like a
as in neighbor and weigh
Did you sleep past the first couplet?
That being said, it doesn't apply to words that not descended from old English, but come right from Latin or Greek- words that are pretty obvious to people who know what English words tend to look like.
2007-02-20 11:58:42 · answer #2 · answered by LabGrrl 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Unfortunately, the English language has exceptions to every rule.
Spanish is considered the easiest to learn and follows its rules almost precisely.
2007-02-20 11:39:53 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because the word is Greek in origin, not English, and not subject to English rules of grammar.
2007-02-20 11:40:53 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 0⤋
Because the word is of Greek origin, and Greek had no such spelling rule.
2007-02-20 11:39:03 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 7⤊ 0⤋
It's a stupid rule with too many exceptions...like the word weird.
2007-02-20 11:38:48 · answer #6 · answered by James P 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Theist is spelled that way too, whats your point ?
2007-02-20 11:41:11 · answer #7 · answered by lilith 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Good question....
Nice thing about Norwegian....everything is spelled exactly as it sounds.
2007-02-20 11:41:12 · answer #8 · answered by Jan P 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Atheist are really A THEIST.
2007-02-20 11:44:12 · answer #9 · answered by Jeancommunicates 7 · 0⤊ 2⤋
I see you saw that commercial for some car company. I see you saw me on the see saw.
2007-02-20 11:39:36 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋