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November 11, 2023
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| Word of the
Week--"taboo"
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Definition--anything which is
banned or disapproved of
by social custom. The act of setting a person or thing apart as sacred,
unclean, or cursed.
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Discussion--A taboo person or
thing can be especially
attractive, so remember:
If something is taboo, it is something you should not do.
If something is banned, the taboo is in force as planned.
If something is all right, the taboo veil is out of sight.
If someone is taboo, it is someone you should not woo.
If someone is trouble, the taboo is in force double.
If someone is beyond reproach, no taboo should ere approach.
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| Etymology--Taboo came into
English use around 1780 and
was borrowed from Tongan, the language
spoken in the South Pacific island country of Tonga. In Tongan,
taboo is generally an adjective;
using it as a noun and a verb are English innovations. The following
languages all show the same Tongan
roots.
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Foreign
Translations
| German: |
Tabu (nt) |
| Dutch: |
taboe (het) |
| French: |
tabou (m) |
| Italian: |
tabù |
| Spanish: |
tabú |
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Jane Ellis
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