Where does “alma” come from?
I need to carefully analyze this etymology chain, but I notice a significant problem: the chain provided doesn't actually support "alma" as an English word derived from these Arabic and Proto-Semitic roots.
The chain shows:
- Arabic عَالِمَة (ʿālima)
- Arabic عَلِمَ (ʿalima)
- Arabic ل (l)
- Proto-Semitic walad-
The Proto-Semitic "walad-" means "child/boy," and the Arabic forms relate to "knowledge/learning" - neither connects to "alma."
I cannot write an accurate etymology sentence because:
1. The chain doesn't credibly trace "alma" to these roots
2. The meaning is marked unknown
3. The connection between Proto-Semitic walad- and the Arabic عَلِمَ forms is unexplained
4
alma (English): An Egyptian singer or dancing-girl employed for...
Definitions
- An Egyptian singer or dancing-girl employed for...
Ancestry of “alma”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | Arabic | عَالِمَة | singer |
| 2 | Arabic | عَلِمَ | to know, to perceive, to distinguish |
| 3 | Arabic | ل | to, for, belonging to; لَـ •; Used to express... |
| 4 | Proto-Semitic | *lV- | — |