A- (3) prefix meaning "not," from Gk a-, an- "not," from pie base *ne "not" (see un-)

teocalli --- 1578, from Amer.Sp., from Nahuatl (Aztec), lit. "temple," from teotl "god" + calli "house."

teonanacatl --- native name for a hallucinogenic fungi (Psilocybe mexicana) found in Central America, 1875, from Nahuatl, from teotl "god" + nancatl "mushroom."

tepee --- 1743, ti pee, from Dakota (Siouan) thipi "dwelling, house."

tephromancy --- 1652, "divination by means of ashes," from Gk. tephra "ashes" + manteia "divination," from mantis "prophet" (see mania).

tepid --- c.1400, from L. tepidus "lukewarm," from tepere "be warm," from PIE base *tep- "warm" (cf. Skt. tapati "makes warm, heats, burns," tapah "heat;" Avestan tafnush "fever;" O.C.S. topiti "to warm," teplu "warm;" O.Ir. tene "fire;" Welsh tes "heat").

tequila --- 1849, from Amer.Sp. tequila, from Tequila, name of a district in central Mexico noted for the fine quality of its tequila. Tequila sunrise is attested by 1965.

teratology --- study of marvels and monsters, 1678, from comb. form of Gk. teras (gen. teratos) "marvel, monster" + -logy.

tercel --- male falcon, c.1381, from O.Fr. tercel (c.1200), from M.L. tertiolus, from L. tertius "third." Various theories as to why it is called this; one says it's because the males are a third smaller than the females, another because a third egg in the nest (smaller than the other two) is believed always to produce a male bird.

tercentenary --- 1844, "pertaining to a period of 300 years," from ter- "three times," from L. ter-, from *tris-, from root of three (q.v.). Cf. L. tertius "third."

terceroon --- offspring of a white and a mulatto, 1760, from Sp. *terceron, from tercero "a third (person)," from tercio "third," from L. tertius. So called from being third in descent from a Negro.

tercet --- three successive lines rhyming together, 1598, from It. terzetto, dim. of terzo "third," from L. tertius (see third). Spelling influenced by Fr. tercet, from the It.

terebinth --- Mediterranean tree, a member of the sumac family, 1382, from O.Fr. therebint (13c.), from L. terebinthus (Pliny), from Gk. terebinthos, probably of foreign origin (Creto-Minoic?). The tree is the source of Chian turpentine.

tergiversation --- turning dishonestly from a straightforward action or statement; shifting, shuffling, equivocation, 1570, from L. tergiversationem (nom. tergiversatio) "a shifting, evasion," from tergiversari "turn one's back on, evade," from tergum "the back" (of unknown origin) + versare "to spin, turn" (see versus).

teriyaki --- 1962, from Japanese, from teri "gloss, lustre" + yaki "roast."

term (n.) --- c.1225, terme "limit in time, set or appointed period," from O.Fr. terme "limit of time or place" (11c.), from L. terminus "end, boundary line," related to termen "boundary, end" (see terminus). Sense of "period of time during which something happens" first recorded c.1300, especially of a school or law court session (1454), The meaning "word or phrase used in a limited or precise sense" is first recorded c.1378, from M.L. use to render Gk. horos "boundary," employed in mathematics and logic. Meaning "completion of the period of pregnancy" is from 1844. The verb meaning "to give a particular name to" is recorded from 1560. Terms "limited conditions, stipulations" is from c.1315; meaning "standing, footing, mutual relations" is from 1543. Term-paper in U.S. educational sense is recorded from 1931.

termagant --- 1500, "violent, overbearing person" (especially of women), from Teruagant, Teruagaunt (c.1205), name of a fictitious Muslim deity appearing in medieval morality plays, from O.Fr. Tervagant, a proper name in "Chanson de Roland" (c.1100), of uncertain origin.

terminal (adj.) --- 1459, "relating to or marking boundaries," from L. terminalis "pertaining to a boundary or end, final," from terminus "end, boundary line" (see terminus). Meaning "fatal" (terminal illness) is first recorded 1891. Sense of "situated at the extreme end of something" is from 1805. The noun sense of "end point of a railway line" is from 1888; that of "device for communicating with a computer" is first recorded 1954. Slang meaning "extreme" first recorded 1983.

termination --- c.1450, from L. terminationem (nom. terminatio) "a fixing of boundaries, bounding, determining," from terminatus, pp. of terminare "to limit, end" (see terminus). Meaning "end of a person's employment" is recorded from 1961; meaning "artificial end of a pregnancy" is attested from 1969; sense of "assasination" is recorded from 1975. Terminate "to bring to an end" is from 1615; sense of "to come to an end" is recorded from 1644; meaning "dismiss from a job" is recorded from 1973; that of "to assassinate" is from 1975.

terminator --- 1770, "line of separation between the bright and dark parts of a moon or planet," from L. terminator, from terminare (see terminus). Meaning "one who terminates (something)" is attested from 1846.

terminer --- a determining, legal term, from Fr. terminer "to end," from L. terminare (see terminus; cf. also oyer).

terminology --- 1801, from Ger. Terminologie (1786), a hybrid coined by C.G. Schütz of Jena, from M.L. terminus "word, expression" (see terminus) + Gk. -logia "a dealing with, a speaking of."

terminus --- 1555, "goal, end, final point," from L. terminus (pl. termini) "end, boundary line," from PIE base *ter-, base of words meaning "peg, post, boundary, marker goal" (cf. Skt. tarati "passes over, crosses over," Hittite tarmaizzi "he limits," Gk. terma "boundary, end, limit"). In ancient Rome, Terminus was the name of the deity who presided over boundaries and landmarks, focus of the important Roman festival of Terminalia (held Feb. 23, the end of the old Roman year). Meaning "either end of a transportation line" is first recorded 1836.

termite --- 1849, back-formation from plural form termites (1781), from Mod.L. termites (three syllables), pl. of termes (gen. termitis), a special use of L.L. termes "woodworm, white ant," altered (by influence of L. terere "to rub, wear, erode") from earlier L. tarmes. Their nest is a terminarium (1863).

tern --- gull-like shore bird (subfamily Sterninae), 1678, via E.Anglian dialect, from a Scand. source (cf. Dan. terne, Swed. tärna, Færoese terna) related to O.N. þerna "tern," cognate with O.E. stearn "starling."

terpsichorean --- pertaining to dancing, 1869, lit. "of Terpsichore," from L. form of Gk Terpsikhore, muse of dancing and dramatic chorus. Hence theatrical slang terp "stage dancer, chorus girl" (1937). Her name is lit. "enjoyment of dance," from terpein "to delight" (from PIE base *terp- "to satisfy;" cf. Skt. trpyati "takes one's fill," Lith. tarpstu "to thrive, prosper") + khoros "dance, chorus" (see chorus).

terra firma --- 1605, "part of the Italian mainland ruled by Venice," from Mod.L. terra firma, lit. "firm land," from L. terra "earth, land" (see terrain) + firma "firm," fem. of firmus (see firm (adj.)). Meaning "the land" (as distinct from "the sea") is first attested 1693.

terra incognita --- unknown or unexplored region, 1616, from L., lit. "unknown land," from terra (see terrain) + fem. of incognito (q.v.).

terrace --- 1515, "gallery, portico, balcony," later "flat, raised place for walking" (1575), from M.Fr. terrace, from O.Fr. terrasse "platform (built on or supported by a mound of earth)," from V.L. *terracea, fem. of *terraceus "earthen, earthy," from L. terra "earth, land" (see terrain). As a natural formation in geology, attested from 1674.

terra-cotta --- 1722, from It. terra cotta, lit. "cooked earth," from terra "earth" (see terrain) + cotta "baked," from L. cocta, fem. pp. of coquere (see cook (n.)). As a color name for brownish-red, attested from 1882.

terrain --- 1727, "ground for training horses," from Fr. terrain "piece of earth, ground, land," from O.Fr. (12c.), from V.L. *terranum, from L. terrenum "land, ground," from neut. of terrenus "of earth, earthly," from terra "earth, land," lit. "dry land" (as opposed to "sea"); from PIE base *ters- "to dry" (cf. Skt. tarsayati "dries up," Avestan tarshu- "dry, solid," Gk. teresesthai "to become or be dry," L. torrere "dry up, parch," Goth. þaursus "dry, barren," O.H.G. thurri, Ger. dürr, O.E. þyrre "dry;" O.E. þurstig "thirsty"). Meaning "tract of country, considered with regard to its natural features" first attested 1766.

Terran --- of or pertaining to the planet Earth, 1881, in science fiction writing, from L. terra (see terrain). Also used as a noun meaning "inhabitant of the Earth" (1953). An earlier form, terrene was used in M.E. in sense of "belonging to this world, earthly, secular, temporal" (c.1300), later, "of the Earth as a planet" (1635).

terrapin --- N.Amer. turtle, 1672, earlier torope (1613), from an Algonquian source (e.g. Abenaki turepe, Delaware tulpe "turtle"). Subsequently extended to allied species in S.Amer., E.Indies, China, N.Africa.

terrarium --- 1890, from Mod.L., formed from L. terra "land" (see terrain) + -arium, abstracted from aquarium.

terrestrial --- 1432, from L. terrestris "earthly," from terra "earth" (see terrain). Originally opposed to celestial; natural history sense of "living on land" is attested from 1638. The noun meaning "a human being, a mortal" is recorded from 1598.

terrible --- c.1430, "causing terror, frightful," from O.Fr. terrible (12c.), from L. terribilis "frightful," from terrere "fill with fear," from PIE base *tres- "to tremble" (cf. Skt. trasati "trembles," Avestan tarshta "feared, revered," Gk. treëin "to tremble," Lith. triseti "to tremble," O.C.S. treso "I shake," M.Ir. tarrach "timid"). Weakened sense of "very bad, awful" is first attested 1596. Terribly "dreadfully" is attested from 1526; in the sense of "extremely" it is first recorded 1833; in the sense of "extremely badly" it dates from 1930.

terrier --- c.1440, from O.Fr. chien terrier "terrier dog," lit. "earth dog," from M.L. terrarius "of earth," from L. terra "earth" (see terrain). So called because the dogs pursue their quarry (foxes, badgers, etc.) into their burrows.

terrific --- 1667, "frightening," from L. terrificus "causing terror or fear," from terrere "fill with fear" (see terrible) + root of facere "to make" (see factitious). Weakened sensed of "very great, severe" (e.g. terrific headache) appeared 1809; colloquial sense of "excellent" began 1888.

terrify --- 1575, from L. terrificare "to frighten," from terrificus "causing terror" (see terrific).

territory --- 1432, "land under the jurisdiction of a town, state, etc.," probably from L. territorium "land around a town, domain, district," from terra "earth, land" (see terrain) + -orium, suffix denoting place. An alternate theory, somewhat supported by the vowels of the original L. word, suggests derivation from terrere "to frighten" (see terrible); thus territorium would mean "a place from which people are warned off." Sense of "any tract of land, district, region" is first attested 1610. Specific U.S. sense of "organized self-governing region not yet a state" is from 1799. Territorial waters is attested from 1841; territorial imperative "animal need to claim and defend territory" is recorded from 1966.

terror --- c.1375 "great fear," from O.Fr. terreur (14c.), from L. terrorem (nom. terror) "great fear, dread," from terrere "fill with fear, frighten," from PIE base *tre- "shake" (see terrible). Meaning "quality of causing dread" is attested from 1528; terror bombing first recorded 1941, with ref. to German air attack on Rotterdam. Sense of "a person fancied as a source of terror" (often with deliberate exaggeration, as of a naughty child) is recorded from 1883. The Reign of Terror in Fr. history (March 1793-July 1794) so called in Eng. from 1801. O.E. words for "terror" included broga and egesa.

terrorism --- 1795, in specific sense of "government intimidation during the Reign of Terror in France" (1793-July 1794), from Fr. terrorisme (1798), from L. terror (see terror).

terry --- loop raised in pile-weaving, left uncut, 1784, possibly an alteration of Fr. tiré "drawn," from pp. of tirer "draw out" (cf. cognate Ger. gezogener Sammet "drawn velvet").

terse --- 1599 (implied in tersely), "clean-cut, burnished, neat," from Fr. ters "clean," from L. tersus "wiped off, clean, neat," from pp. of tergere "to rub, polish, wipe." Sense of "concise or pithy in style or language" is from 1777, which led to a general sense of "neatly concise." The pejorative meaning "brusque" is a fairly recent development.

tertiary --- 1656, "of the third order, rank, degree, etc.," from L. tertiarius "of or pertaining to a third," from tertius "third." The geological sense (with capital T-) of "era after the Mesozoic" (which formerly was called the Secondary) is attested from 1794, after It. terziari, used in this sense 1760 by It. geologist Giovanni Arduino (1714-1795).

tertium quid --- 1724, from L., lit. "third something," loan-translation of Gk. triton ti (Plato), used in alchemy for "unidentified element present in a combination of two known ones."

terza rima --- 1819, from It., lit. "third rhyme," Dante's measure, a-b-a-b-c-b-c-d-c-, etc.

tesla --- 1960, "unit of magnetic flux density," from Nikola Tesla (1856-1943), Croatian-born U.S. engineer. Tesla coil is attested from 1896.

tessellated --- 1695, from L. tessellatus "made of small square stones or tiles," from tessella "small square stone or tile," dim. of tessera "a cube or square of stone or wood," perhaps from Gk. tessera, neut. of tesseres, Ionic variant of tessares "four" (see four), in reference to four corners. Tessellation is attested from 1660.

test (n.) --- c.1386, "small vessel used in assaying precious metals," from O.Fr. test, from L. testum "earthen pot," related to testa "piece of burned clay, earthen pot, shell" (cf. L. testudo "tortoise") and textere "to weave" (cf. Lith. tistas "vessel made of willow twigs;" see texture). Sense of "trial or examination to determine the correctness of something" is recorded from 1594. The verb in this sense is from 1748. The connecting notion is "ascertaining the quality of a metal by melting it in a pot." Test-tube is from 1846; test-tube baby is recorded from 1935. Test Act was the name given to various laws in Eng. history meant to exclude Catholics and Nonconformists from office, especially that of 1673, repealed 1828. Test drive (v.) is first recorded 1954.

testament --- c.1290, "last will disposing of property," from L. testamentum "a will, publication of a will," from testari "make a will, be witness to," from testis "witness," from PIE *tris- "three," on the notion of "third person, disinterested witness." Use in reference to the two divisions of the Bible (c.1300) is from L.L. vetus testamentum and novum testamentum, loan-translations of Gk. palaia diatheke and kaine diatheke. L.L. testamentum in this case was a mistranslation of Gk. diatheke, which meant both "covenant, dispensation" and "will, testament," and was used in the former sense in the account of the Last Supper (see testimony) but subsequently was interpreted as Christ's "last will."

testate --- having left a valid will, 1475, from L. testatus, pp. of testari "make a will, be witness to, declare" (see testament).

tester (1) --- one who tests, 1661, from test.

tester (2) --- canopy over a bed, c.1380, from M.L. testerium, from testera "head stall," from L.L. testa (capitis) "skull," from L., lit. "earthenware, pot." The "head" sense (originally merely humorous) is the source of tester in obs. senses of "piece of armor for the head" (c.1386) and "coin of Henry VIII" (1546), the first Eng. coin to bear a true portrait. For sense development, cf. O.E. cuppe "cup" from source of Ger. kopf "head."

testicle --- 1597, alteration of testicule (c.1425), from L. testiculus, dim. of testis "testicle" (see testis). The O.E. was herþan, probably originally "leather bag" (cf. heorþa "deer-skin"). The commonest slang terms for them in other languages are words that mean "balls," "stones," "nuts," "eggs."

testify --- 1377, "to serve as evidence of," from L. testificari "bear witness," from testis "witness" (see testament) + root of facere "to make" (see factitious). Biblical sense of "openly profess one's faith and devotion" is attested from 1526.

testimonial (adj.) --- c.1422, "of or pertaining to testimony," in letters testimonial from M.Fr. lettres testimoniaulx, from L. litteræ testimoniales, from testimonium (see testimony). The noun meaning "writing testifying to one's qualification or character" is recorded from 1571; that of "gift presented as an expression of appreciation" is from 1838.

testimony --- 1382, "the Ten Commandments," from L.L. testimonium (Vulgate), along with Gk. to martyrion (Septuagint), translations of Heb. 'eduth "attestation, testimony" (of the Decalogue), from 'ed "witness." Meaning "evidence, statement of a witness" first recorded 1432, from O.Fr. testimonie (11c.), from L. testimonium "evidence, proof, testimony," from testis "witness" (see testament) + -monium, suffix signifying "action, state, condition."

testis --- (pl. testes), 1704, from L. testis "testicle," usually regarded as a special application of testis "witness" (see testament), presumably because it "bears witness" to virility (cf. Gk. parastates, lit. "one that stands by;" and Fr. slang témoins, lit. "witnesses"). But Buck thinks Gk. parastatai "testicles" has been wrongly associated with the legal sense of parastates "supporter, defender" and suggests instead parastatai in the sense of twin "supporting pillars, props of a mast," etc. Walde, meanwhile, suggests a connection between testis and testa "pot, shell, etc."

testosterone --- male sex hormone, 1935, from Ger. Testosteron (1935), coined from L. testis "testicle" (see testis) + ster(ol) (see steroid) + chemical ending -one.

testy --- 1510, "impetuous, rash," from M.E. testif "headstrong" (c.1374), from Anglo-Fr. testif, from O.Fr. testu "stubborn," lit. "heady," from teste "head," from L.L. testa "skull," in L. "pot, shell" (see tester (2)). Meaning "easily irritated" is first recorded 1526.

tetanus --- 1398, from L. tetanus, from Gk. tetanos "muscular spasm," lit. "a stretching, tension," from teinein "to stretch" (see tenet); so called because the disease is characterized by violent spasms and stiffness of muscles.

tetched --- 1930, U.S. colloquial variant of touched in the sense of "slightly crazy" (see touch).

tetchy --- easily irritated, 1592, teachie, in "Romeo & Juliet" I.iii.32; of uncertain origin. Perhaps from M.E. tatch "a mark, quality," derived via O.Fr. from V.L. *tecca, from a Gmc. source akin to O.E. tacen (see token).

tête-à-tête (n.) --- 1697, "a private meeting," from Fr., lit. "head-to-head," from O.Fr. teste "head" (see tester (2)). The adj., "privately," is recorded from 1728.

tether (n.) --- 1376, "rope for fastening an animal," probably from O.N. tjoðr "tether," from P.Gmc. *teudran (cf. Dan. tøir, Swed. tjuder, O.Fris. tiader, M.Du. tuder, Du. tuier "line, rope," O.H.G. zeotar "pole of a cart"), from PIE base *deu- "to fasten" + instrumentive suffix *-tro-. Fig. sense of "measure of one's limitations" is attested from 1579. The verb is first recorded c.1470, from the noun. Tether-ball is attested from 1900.

Tethys --- geologists' name for the sea that anciently lay between Eurasia and Africa-Arabia, 1893, from the name of a Gk. sea goddess, sister and consort of Oceanus.

Teton --- member of a western Sioux people, 1806, from Dakota titonwan, lit. "dwellers on the prairie," from thi + huwa. Not related to the Grand Teton mountain range.

tetra- --- comb. form meaning "four," from Gk. tetra-, combining form of tettares, tessares "four" (see four).

tetragrammaton --- c.1400, from Gk. (to) tetragrammaton "(the word) of four letters," from tetra- "four" + gramma (gen. grammatos) "letter, something written." The Hebrew divine name, transliterated as YHWH, usually vocalized in English as "Jehovah" or "Yahweh."

tetrahedron --- solid figure contained by four triangular surfaces, 1570, from Late Gk. tetraedron, originally neuter of tetraedros (adj.) "four-sided," from tetra- "four" + hedra "seat, base, chair, face of a geometric solid," from PIE base *sed- "to sit" (see sedentary).

tetrameter --- 1612, from L. tetrametrus, from Gk. tetrametron "verse of four measures," originally neuter of tetrametros (adj.) "having four measures," from tetra- "four" + metron "measure" (see meter (2)).

tetrarch --- late O.E. tetrarche "ruler of one of four divisions of a kingdom or province," from L.L. tetrarcha, from Gk. tetrarkhes "leader of four companies, tetrarch," from tetra- "four" + arkhein "to rule." Applied generally to subordinate rulers in the Roman Empire, especially in Syria.

Teutonic --- 1605, "of or pertaining to the Germanic languages and to peoples or tribes who speak or spoke them," from L. Teutonicus, from Teutones, name of a tribe that inhabited coastal Germany and devastated Gaul 113-101 B.C.E., probably from a P.Gmc. word related to O.H.G. diot "people" (see Dutch), from *teuta, the common PIE word for "people" (cf. Lith. tauto, Osc. touto, O.Ir. tuath, Goth. þiuda, O.E. þeod). Used in Eng. in anthropology to avoid the modern political association of German; but in this anthropoligical sense Fr. uses germanique and Ger. uses germanisch, since neither uses its form of German for the narrower national meaning (cf. Fr. allemand, see Alemanni; and Ger. deutsch). In Finnish, Germany is Saksa "Land of the Saxons." The Teutonic Knights (founded c.1191) were a military order of Ger. knights formed for service in the Holy Land, later crusading in Prussia and Lithuania. The Teutonic cross (1882) was the badge of the order. Teuton "a German" is attested from 1833.

Texas --- Mexican province, briefly an independent nation and now a U.S. state, from Sp. Texas, Tejas, earlier pronounced "ta-shas," originally an ethnic name, from Caddo (eastern Texas Indian tribe) taysha "friends, allies," written by the Spanish as a plural. Tex as a nickname for a Texan is recorded from 1909. Tex-Mex "of Mexican-Texan origin" is recorded from 1949, from Texan + Mexican. An earlier noun for "Texan of Mexican background" was Texican (1863). Baseball Texas-leaguer is recorded from 1905.

text --- 1369, "wording of anything written," from O.Fr. texte, O.N.Fr. tixte (12c.), from M.L. textus "the Scriptures, text, treatise," in L.L. "written account, content, characters used in a document," from L. textus "style or texture of a work," lit. "thing woven," from pp. stem of texere "to weave," from PIE base *tek- "make" (see texture).

textile --- 1626, from L. textilis "woven, fabric, cloth," noun use of textilis "woven," from texere "to weave," from PIE base *tek- "to make" (see texture).

texture --- c.1425, "network, structure," from M.Fr., from L. textura "web, texture, structure," from stem of textere "to weave," from PIE base *tek- "to make" (cf. Skt. taksati "he fashions, constructs," taksan "carpenter;" Avestan taša "ax, hatchet," thwaxš- "be busy;" O.Pers. taxš- "be active;" Gk. tekton "carpenter," tekhne "art;" O.C.S. tesla "ax, hatchet;" Lith. tasau "to carve;" O.Ir. tal "cooper's ax;" O.H.G. dahs, Ger. Dachs "badger," lit. "builder;" Hittite taksh- "to join, unite, build"). Meaning "structural character" is recorded from 1660.

TGIF --- by 1970, slang abbreviation of "Thank God, it's Friday" (end of the work week).

-th --- suffix forming nouns from verbs (depth, strength, truth, etc.), from O.E. -ðu, -ð, from PIE *-ita (cf. Skt. -tati-, Gk. -tet-, L. -tati-). The suffix forming ordinal numbers (fourth, tenth, etc.) is O.E. -ða, from PIE *-tos (cf. Skt. thah, Gk. -tos, L. -tus).

th- --- A sound found chiefly in words of O.E., O.N. or Gk. origin, unpronounceable by Normans and many other Europeans. In Gk., the sound corresponds etymologically to Skt. -dh- and Eng. -d-; and it was represented graphically by -TH- and at first pronounced as a true aspirate (as still in Eng. outhouse, shithead, etc.). But by 2c. B.C.E. the Gk. letter theta was in universal use and had the modern "-th-" sound. Latin had neither the letter nor the sound, however, and the Romans represented Gk. theta by -TH-, which they generally pronounced, at least in Late Latin, as simple "-t-" (passed down to Romanic languages, e.g. Sp. termal "thermal," teoria "theory," teatro "theater"). In Gmc. languages it represents PIE -t- and was common at the start of words or after stressed vowels. To represent it, O.E. and O.N. used the characters ð "eth" (a modified form of -d-) and þ "thorn," which originally was a rune. O.E., unlike O.N., seems never to have clearly matched the two versions of the sound ("hard" and "soft") to the two letters. The digraph -th- sometimes appears in early O.E., on the Roman model, and it returned in M.E. with the Fr. scribes, driving out eth by c.1250, but thorn persisted, especially in demonstratives (þat, þe, þis, etc.), even as other words were being spelled with -th-. The advent of printing dealt its death-blow, however, as types were imported from continental founders, who had no thorn. For a time y was used in its place (esp. in Scotland), because it had a similar shape, hence ye for the in historical tourist trap olde shoppes (it was never pronounced "ye," only spelled that way). The awareness that some L. words in t- were from Gk. th- encouraged over-correction in Eng. and created unetymological forms such as Thames and author, while some words borrowed from Romanic languages preserve, on the Roman model, the Gk. -th- spelling but the simple Latin "t" pronunciation (e.g. Thomas and thyme).