We regret to inform those of you interested in this matter that from pulpit can really and without embarrassment refer to what is also known as the podium.
This is a podium. But it is also a podium.
But back up a bit. podium in its original English usage as an architectural term. The first word is used to refer to a low wall that serves as a foundation or terrace wall; a type of platform that was originally the one that circled the arenas of the ancient amphitheater and served as a stand for the steps. This word comes from the Latin pulpitand traced back to greece Locust results means “base.” podion came from Greek in turn bark- (or pous), which means “foot”, which we see in the word foot doctor.
There are many people who would like to see the ideas of “base” and “leg” preserved in all modern uses of pulpitthat’s why we have to apologize: from pulpit sometimes it doesn’t refer to something you stand on—that is, something that supports your feet, a base—but something you stand behind and use to take notes, a book, or whatever. something else you’re glancing at when you address or read to a group of people. You know the object: it usually has a slanted top surface and a place to stow a water bottle or two underneath. It can fall to the floor or sit on a table.
If you’re frowning deeply as you read this, you probably know that object as “the podium” (a Latin word legal, meaning “to read”). And it really is a podium. But the podium is also sometimes called pulpit (or podia, if you want to use the plural in relation to the word’s Latin history), at least in North America. And this has been true since about the middle of the 20th century.
Of course, the apology we made in a few paragraphs above was a bit humorous. An apology implies an admission of error which we simply cannot do here in good faith. We have nothing to do with an expansion of the word pulpit to cover the podiums. Words often take on different meanings over time and it is our duty to report those meanings if and when they are established. podium is in fact used as a synonym of pulpit in prose published, edited by skilled writers. And we’ll say it from the podium if we have to.
Categories: Usage Notes
Source: vothisaucamau.edu.vn
