504: damn versus damage Apr 25, 2016

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The verb 'to damn' comes from Latin, which should not be a surprise given its biblical and Christian connotations. The Latin word from which 'damn' is derived is 'dam(p)nare' which means ‘inflict loss on,’ and ultimately comes from the participle, 'damnum' meaning ‘loss’. The original meaning is mostly lost (damned) at this point, but it is still retained in the other derivative, 'damage', which does not connote anything religious.

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