Radix malorum est cupiditas
Encyclopedia
Radix malorum est cupiditas is a Biblical quotation in Latin
that means "greed is the root of evils" (or, in sentence order, the root
of evil
is greed)↑.
The original biblical quotation means "the love of money is the root of all evil" (or all kinds of evil), and has been translated into English as such since the King James Version. However it has frequently been mistranslated as "money is the root of all evil", and the latter has become well-known malapropism
.
The original source is 1 Timothy 6:10 (St Jerome's Vulgate
translation). The word cupiditas is ambiguous, as it may also mean cupidity, or strong desire. However, the Latin phrase is itself a translation from Greek
, where the original word philarguria can only mean love of money.
In the medieval poet Geoffrey Chaucer
's Pardoner's Tale in The Canterbury Tales
, this lesson was illustrated.
↑The Modern English word cupidity↑↑ is described by OED as etymologically cognate with Latin cupidus, grammatically feminine, Eagerly Desirous. There can be no ambiguity nor misunderstanding of the force of the word as used by Catullus:
Sed mulier cupido quod dicit amanti
In vento et rapida scribere oportet aqua↑↑↑
The OED definition of cupidity is Ardent desire, inordinate longing or lust; covetousness, placing the weight firmly on the lecherous side of the reference of this word, which came into our language from Latin, and perhaps through French.
That its biblical reference is to the desire of filthy lucre seems established, but to the Latin-literate medievals the other cultural reference, to the desires of the flesh, must have been an alternative pasture of meaning.
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
that means "greed is the root of evils" (or, in sentence order, the root
Root
In vascular plants, the root is the organ of a plant that typically lies below the surface of the soil. This is not always the case, however, since a root can also be aerial or aerating . Furthermore, a stem normally occurring below ground is not exceptional either...
of evil
Evil
Evil is the violation of, or intent to violate, some moral code. Evil is usually seen as the dualistic opposite of good. Definitions of evil vary along with analysis of its root motive causes, however general actions commonly considered evil include: conscious and deliberate wrongdoing,...
is greed)↑.
The original biblical quotation means "the love of money is the root of all evil" (or all kinds of evil), and has been translated into English as such since the King James Version. However it has frequently been mistranslated as "money is the root of all evil", and the latter has become well-known malapropism
Malapropism
A malapropism is an act of misusing or the habitual misuse of similar sounding words, especially with humorous results. An example is Yogi Berra's statement: "Texas has a lot of electrical votes," rather than "electoral votes".-Etymology:...
.
The original source is 1 Timothy 6:10 (St Jerome's Vulgate
Vulgate
The Vulgate is a late 4th-century Latin translation of the Bible. It was largely the work of St. Jerome, who was commissioned by Pope Damasus I in 382 to make a revision of the old Latin translations...
translation). The word cupiditas is ambiguous, as it may also mean cupidity, or strong desire. However, the Latin phrase is itself a translation from Greek
Greek language
Greek is an independent branch of the Indo-European family of languages. Native to the southern Balkans, it has the longest documented history of any Indo-European language, spanning 34 centuries of written records. Its writing system has been the Greek alphabet for the majority of its history;...
, where the original word philarguria can only mean love of money.
In the medieval poet Geoffrey Chaucer
Geoffrey Chaucer
Geoffrey Chaucer , known as the Father of English literature, is widely considered the greatest English poet of the Middle Ages and was the first poet to have been buried in Poet's Corner of Westminster Abbey...
's Pardoner's Tale in The Canterbury Tales
The Canterbury Tales
The Canterbury Tales is a collection of stories written in Middle English by Geoffrey Chaucer at the end of the 14th century. The tales are told as part of a story-telling contest by a group of pilgrims as they travel together on a journey from Southwark to the shrine of Saint Thomas Becket at...
, this lesson was illustrated.
↑The Modern English word cupidity↑↑ is described by OED as etymologically cognate with Latin cupidus, grammatically feminine, Eagerly Desirous. There can be no ambiguity nor misunderstanding of the force of the word as used by Catullus:
Sed mulier cupido quod dicit amanti
In vento et rapida scribere oportet aqua↑↑↑
The OED definition of cupidity is Ardent desire, inordinate longing or lust; covetousness, placing the weight firmly on the lecherous side of the reference of this word, which came into our language from Latin, and perhaps through French.
That its biblical reference is to the desire of filthy lucre seems established, but to the Latin-literate medievals the other cultural reference, to the desires of the flesh, must have been an alternative pasture of meaning.