Here, for once, an article that fits into the news. In a few days because the telethon began. But really means this word?
My older readers will recall my very first two articles were devoted to "etymological monsters" (" Métrophérique " and "homophobia ). Well, here's a new monster etymology.
The prefix "tele-" means "far" is that of "telephone", "television", and numerous other words. But "-thon"? Nothing to do with the "Tuna" comes from the Greek well, but "thunnos. I think the inventors of this neologism resumed the final "marathon" because the telethon is to do a marathon so far. True, but the word "marathon", "-thon" is not a suffix: it is an integral part of the root.
the way, where does this word mean? Battle of Marathon, of course. I briefly remind you the facts. In 490 BC. BC, the Athenians are victorious Persians in the plain of Marathon. As the phone did not exist, a messenger was sent forward as quickly as possible the news of the victory in Athens, at 42 km Marathon. The brave man running at full speed in his legs, arrived in Athens, announced the news, then collapses, dead.
During the first Olympics of the modern era in 1896, was called by that name a race of 42 km, in memory of this courageous messenger.
But where the name came clean "Marathon"? Well, a "marathon" ("o" long) in Greek, is simply a "field of fennel" and "Marathon" ("o" in short) which means "fennel".
If we had to translate strictly "telethon" it would be a "far-nouil!
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