I like etymology as much as the next guy, but to say, “fortify=tamper” but you’re really straining credulity here.
fortify has its own etymology from latin through French as “strong/strength” (see: Fortification, forte, fort).
I’d further suggest that there are about 6,000 ways to fortify something, from adding ethanol to wine, building a wall around a country, adding vitamins to milk, etc. Deciding that there is some root related to “to tamp” feels like a stretch. Suggesting it’s a “smoking gun” is kind of absurd.
Regarding the modern English words, “tamper” and “to tamp”, they aren’t related. “Tamp” comes from the French, “Tampion” or “tampon” (we use the same word to describe a different thing, but the concept is similar) derives from the tool used to tamp down powder in a gun. “Tamper” is first seen in the 1500’s as a migration from “temper”. It’s a verb that originally was just someone working on or with something and ultimate landed at the meaning we have today implying “interference.”
Beyond that, in the context of the piece, this article is not painting a picture that portrays the MAGA movement particularly well when you read the entire thing.
Fun little exercise in words and history, but far from a smoking gun.
Probably. Mostly I just don’t like looking dumb, so I double checked with an etymology dictionary. I was excited for a “smoking gun”. Unfortunately I feel dumber after reading this post.
Guess I should tamp down my expectations for what counts as a sticky-worthy smoking gun around here.
I like etymology as much as the next guy, but to say, “fortify=tamper” but you’re really straining credulity here.
fortify has its own etymology from latin through French as “strong/strength” (see: Fortification, forte, fort).
I’d further suggest that there are about 6,000 ways to fortify something, from adding ethanol to wine, building a wall around a country, adding vitamins to milk, etc. Deciding that there is some root related to “to tamp” feels like a stretch. Suggesting it’s a “smoking gun” is kind of absurd.
Regarding the modern English words, “tamper” and “to tamp”, they aren’t related. “Tamp” comes from the French, “Tampion” or “tampon” (we use the same word to describe a different thing, but the concept is similar) derives from the tool used to tamp down powder in a gun. “Tamper” is first seen in the 1500’s as a migration from “temper”. It’s a verb that originally was just someone working on or with something and ultimate landed at the meaning we have today implying “interference.”
Beyond that, in the context of the piece, this article is not painting a picture that portrays the MAGA movement particularly well when you read the entire thing.
Fun little exercise in words and history, but far from a smoking gun.
I think you like entomology more than the next guy
Probably. Mostly I just don’t like looking dumb, so I double checked with an etymology dictionary. I was excited for a “smoking gun”. Unfortunately I feel dumber after reading this post.
Guess I should tamp down my expectations for what counts as a sticky-worthy smoking gun around here.