Where does “gummiparagraf” come from?
gummiparagraf (Danish) comes from Danish paragraf, from Latin paragraphus, from Ancient Greek παράγραφος, from Ancient Greek γράφω, from Proto-Hellenic grəpʰō, from Proto-Indo-European gerbʰ-, from Proto-Indo-European ger- — to turn, bend, twist, wind; to tie, bind...
gummiparagraf (Danish): an ambiguous law that can be bent to apply to a wide range of cases, depending on political expediency
Definitions
- an ambiguous law that can be bent to apply to a wide range of cases, depending on political expediency
Ancestry of “gummiparagraf”, step by step
gummiparagraf traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via Danish paragraf
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Danish | paragraf | section, clause, article |
| 2 | Latin | paragraphus | paragraph |
| 3 | Ancient Greek | παράγραφος | short stroke in the margin marking a break in... |
| 4 | Ancient Greek | γράφω | to scratch, cut into; to draw, sketch, paint; to... |
| 5 | Proto-Hellenic | grəpʰō | to scratch, cut or carve into |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | gerbʰ- | to carve |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | ger- | to turn, bend, twist, wind; to tie, bind... |
via Danish gummi
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Danish | gummi | rubber; gum; rubber n |