Sapien means wise. Did the Italian word "sapere" - to know - come from sapien?
2007-04-16 16:28:59 · 3 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Other - Science
The Etymological history of Sapien:
Latin sapiēns, sapient-, present participle of sapere, to taste, be wise.
Origin: 1425–75; late Middle English sapyent from Latin sapient- (s. of sapiéns, prp. of sapere to be wise, lit., to taste, have taste), equiv. to sapi- verb s. + -ent- -ent.
http://dictionary.reference.com/search?r=2&q=sapiens
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/sapient
2007-04-16 16:55:30 · answer #1 · answered by Tiger Tracks 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I think it is not.
Well, most scientific names come from Latin words.
So, according to my idea of biology, 'homo sapien' definitely not comes from the word 'sapere'. It is a scientific name of human beings. In Malay , humans are called "manusia" which comes from an Arabic word "Nusia" which means "forgetful". That's why sometimes humans are forgetful. In Latin, homo sapiens means a wise or knowing man. Humans are from the family Hominidae (the great apes)
2007-04-17 08:33:44 · answer #2 · answered by aus 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
No, but like many words in English and the romance languages, they come from the same Latin root. Nearly all biological category names come from Latin roots. The modern language closest to Latin is, of course, Italian.
2007-04-17 14:52:59 · answer #3 · answered by Frank N 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋