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Hello and welcome to Your Greek Word On A Sunday, a weekly, bite-size podcast for anyone curious on language, etymology and connections. I am your host, Emmanuela Lia and wherever you are in the world, if you want to entertain your brain for a few minutes, this is the podcast for you. Let's Go!

Μάσταξ (mastax) in Ancient Greek meant 'Jaw' and the verb- that is still used in Greek- is μασώ (maso). 'I chew'. One letter change from Jaw and your upper lip is called μύσταξ (mistax). The word for the hair growing on it is exactly the same and first came into French through Latin 'Mostaccio' and remained in English, as a French word. since 1585 when it was found in a translation by Thomas Washington. ΜΥΣΤΑΞ/MOUSTACHE

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(Piano music)

Hello and welcome to Your Greek Word On A Sunday, a weekly, bite-size podcast for anyone curious on language, etymology and connections. I am your host, Emmanuela Lia and wherever you are in the world, if you want to entertain your brain for a few minutes, this is the podcast for you. Let's Go!

Today's word had two meanings in Ancient Greece and could also be used metaphorically. Σκήπτω (skipto) in Ancient Greek meant 'I lean on' something. Ambassadors and messengers were often put in difficult positions either negotiating for their state's interests or bringing bad news so, they carried a staff to protect themselves but later it became a symbol of someone who was protected so they were safe on sight. A staff was also present in public debates and held by the speaker. And lastly, in courts, it was held by judges. As a symbol of power a staff would be passed from father to son and some had an ornament on top, the equivalent of a family crest although, Zeus had an Eagle (he would, would he?). Metaphorically we find the word used in the Greek Tragedy Oedipus Rex where his children are described as the staff that carries light. And today, we refer to it as a symbol of power. The word went from Latin 'Sceptrum' to French 'Ceptre' and then English in the 1300s. ΣΚΗΠΤΡΟ/SCEPTRE

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(Piano music)

Hello and welcome to Your Greek Word On A Sunday, a weekly, bite-size podcast for anyone curious on language, etymology and connections. I am your host, Emmanuela Lia and wherever you are in the world, if you want to entertain your brain for a few minutes, this is the podcast for you. Let's Go!

Happy Easter to those of you celebrating and I hope you're having a relaxing Sunday those of you who don't.

Before the Byzantine separation that brought us Eastern and Western Christianity, this word meant 'a universal faith' or more accurately 'a faith recognised by all'. The first time we find that word in writing is in a letter from 110AD by Ignatius of Antioch, addressing the Christians in Smyrna to follow their Bishop like the church follows 'the universal faith'. Κατά (kata) is a preposition and among other things, it means 'according to' and ολικός (olikos) means 'Whole'. ΚΑΘΟΛΙΚΟΣ/CATHOLIC

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