I'm going to read two more from the book.
And then I'm going to read you guys a couple
from the new manuscript.
One of the things I love to teach my students
is the etymology or the roots of words,
because in the study of the roots of words,
you begin to understand something
about the power of language.
Etymology of Cute.
Cute from acute.
From the Latin "acuere"--
to sharpen to a point, an angle as
in exhibit A, the perfect nose.
Which is cute as in small and well-formed, but not so small
as to be peculiar, but rather to be cute, and in such
to give a face an appropriate idiom.
A cute face establishes attractiveness.
That is to say, rounded and young, clearly complected so as
to inspire the desire to mate.
Cute from the old English "cunnan,"
which is cunning, which is to know in a learned way, which
is cute in itself.
That is to say you are cute, to know you are cute.
"Mignon" in French as in kissing,
as in what the cute face elicits from the mouth,
and from the French "Mignon"-- minion, favored and mannered,
a lover who is insincere.
Too cute, which is keen, which is
sharp and to the point like the daggers elicited
from the mouth.
Cute as in sharp witted, which is perceptive, which is to say,
don't get cute with me.