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98:. Most probably, the threshold was a place where corn was threshed (a threshing floor). The word contained a root and a suffix. That suffix has undergone numerous changes, for people tried to identify it with some word that could make sense to them. What remains unclear is not this process but the semantic leap. We are missing the moment at which the threshing floor, however primitive, began to denote the entrance to the room.
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Many different forms of this word are attested in Old
English, which shows that the original meaning of this word and especially of its latter half was already obscure at the time and that most or all of the different Old English spellings were the result of
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of this word exist, some of which were even recorded by dictionaries in the past and even created by early linguists before linguistics became a strictly scientific field. Some of these false etymologies date from the time of
71:. Although modern dictionaries do not yet record the results of the latest etymological research on this word, they do record the results of older research that shows that the second half is not related to the modern word
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At one time, it appears, the threshold was not part of a doorway. The word’s original form became obscure quite early and produced a whole bouquet of folk etymological doublets.
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Door thresholds cover the gap between the floor and the door frame, helping to prevent any water leaks, insects or draughts from entering through the opening.
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it is considered bad luck to shake hands or kiss across the threshold when meeting somebody. In many countries it is considered good luck for a
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39:. Some cultures attach special symbolism to a threshold. It is called a
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In many cultures it has a special symbolism: for instance, in
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94:stands especially close to the sought-after
148:"Our habitat: the etymology of 'threshold'"
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127:over the threshold to their new home.
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1306:. You can help Knowledge (XXG) by
217:"Carrying the Bride: Exactly Why?"
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219:. How Stuff Works. 28 July 2008
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197:. Russian language for lovers
75:. According to the linguist
23:A worn-out wooden threshold
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978:Multi-family residential
1363:Architectural elements
1302:-related article is a
195:"Russian Superstition"
173:"Polish Superstitions"
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175:. Polish Language.org
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424: / Guest room
900:Servants' quarters
103:Cultural symbolism
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701:Janitorial closet
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63:or even earlier.
56:false etymologies
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481:Conversation pit
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69:folk etymologies
54:Various popular
43:in New England.
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1308:expanding it
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1153:Roof lantern
905:Smoking room
875:Long gallery
855:Drawing room
841:Conservatory
748:Storm cellar
719:Storage room
715:Utility room
711:Laundry room
687:Furnace room
278:Shared rooms
221:. Retrieved
211:
199:. Retrieved
189:
177:. Retrieved
167:
156:. Retrieved
154:. 2015-02-11
151:
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53:
45:
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26:
1246:Home repair
1043:Belt course
951:Hidden room
880:Lumber room
796:Antechamber
787:Great house
767:Wine cellar
738:Root cellar
691:Boiler room
672:Crawl space
343:Living room
336:kitchenette
321:Home cinema
306:Family room
301:Dining room
291:Common room
61:Old English
41:door saddle
1347:Categories
1256:Tree house
1226:Front yard
1158:Sill plate
1106:Foundation
1048:Bressummer
961:house plan
930:Undercroft
915:State room
865:Great hall
834:still room
501:dumbwaiter
486:Cubby-hole
316:Great room
286:Bonus room
158:2018-09-04
131:References
121:bridegroom
1300:sociology
1180:Threshold
1063:Colonnade
1008:Townhouse
946:Furniture
850:Courtyard
752:Safe room
662:Cloakroom
630:Technical
620:Vestibule
605:Staircase
544:Inglenook
517:Fireplace
476:Breezeway
348:Gynaeceum
92:driscubli
81:threshing
50:Etymology
29:threshold
1221:Driveway
1216:Backyard
1175:Skylight
1138:Plumbing
1133:Ornament
1128:Lighting
1038:Baluster
1026:elements
998:Detached
993:Terraced
845:Orangery
824:scullery
801:Ballroom
777:Workshop
762:Wardrobe
750: /
717: /
713: /
689: /
652:Basement
584:sleeping
579:screened
564:Overhang
508:Entryway
496:Elevator
410:Bathroom
365:man cave
1209:Related
1185:Transom
1077:Cornice
1067:Portico
1058:Chimney
1053:Ceiling
885:Parlour
870:Library
829:spicery
819:saucery
814:buttery
657:Carport
639:storage
634:utility
615:Veranda
610:Terrace
539:Hallway
471:Balcony
450:Nursery
445:Cabinet
440:Boudoir
422:Bedroom
394:Sunroom
326:Kitchen
223:May 13,
201:May 13,
179:May 13,
152:OUPblog
113:Ukraine
31:is the
1273:
1231:Garden
1200:Window
1143:Quoins
1121:Portal
1072:Column
988:Duplex
966:styles
925:Turret
757:Studio
733:Pantry
706:Larder
696:Garage
667:Closet
601:Stairs
559:Loggia
522:hearth
512:Genkan
466:Atrium
459:Spaces
428:closet
415:toilet
384:Shrine
360:Andron
311:Garret
117:Russia
109:Poland
96:etymon
1353:Doors
1298:This
1190:Vault
1163:Style
1111:Gable
1101:Floor
1081:Eaves
971:types
956:House
939:Other
910:Solar
890:Sauna
789:areas
728:floor
647:Attic
574:Porch
569:Patio
549:Lanai
529:Foyer
389:Study
353:harem
270:house
266:Rooms
125:bride
35:of a
1304:stub
1251:Shed
1236:Home
1195:Wall
1168:list
1148:Roof
1116:Gate
1091:Door
1086:Dome
1033:Arch
637:and
591:Ramp
554:Loft
534:Hall
491:Deck
225:2012
203:2012
181:2012
115:and
73:hold
37:door
33:sill
1096:Ell
296:Den
1349::
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139:^
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27:A
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244:v
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183:.
161:.
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
