Accordingly we are not surprized to find some radical words nearly the same in all the existing languages of Europe. See Jackson's Chronological Antiquities, vol. 3, with Lhuyd, Geblin, and others.
To illustrate what I have advanced, respecting the first peopling of the world, and the derivation of most European languages from one mother tongue, I will here insert some remarks from Rowland's Mona Antiqua Restaurata, p. 261, with a table of words, evidently of Hebrew original.
"A TABLE, shewing the Affinity and near Resemblance, both in Sound and Signification, of many Words of the Ancient Languages of Europe with the Original Hebrew Tongue.
"For the better understanding of the parallels of this following table, it is to be observed, that letters of one and the same organ are of common use in the pronunciation of words of different languages—as for example, M, B, V, F, P, are labials: T, D, S, are dentals: G, Ch, H, K, C, are gutturals—and therefore if the Hebrew word or sound begins with, or is made of, any one of the labials, any of the rest of the same organ will answer it in the derivative languages. The same is to be observed in using the dental and the guttural letters. For in tracing out the origin of words, we are more to regard the sound of them than their literal form and composition; wherein we find words very often, by the humors and fancy of people, transposed and altered from their native sounds, and yet in their signification they very well fit their original patterns. I shall only exemplify in the letters M, B, and V, which are of one organ, that is, are formed by one instrument, the lip; and therefore are promiscuously used the one for the other, in pronouncing words of one language in another. The Hebrew B is generally pronounced as a V consonant. And the Irish also, most commonly in the middle of a word, pronounce M as a V; as we find the ancient Britons to have made use of V, or rather F, which they pronounce as V, for M and B in many Latin words; as,
| Latin. | British. |
|---|---|
| Animal | Anifail |
| Turma | Tyrfa |
| Terminus | Terfyn |
| Calamus | Calaf |
| Primus | Prif |
| Amnis | Afon |
| Arma | Arfau |
| Firmus | Ffyrf |
| Monumentum | Monfent |
| Firmomentum | Ffurfafen |
| Lamentor | Llefain |
| Elementum | Eifen |
| Memorare | Myfyrio |
| Hyems | Gauaf |
| Clamare | Llafaru |
| Numerus | Nifer |
| Columna | Colofn |
| Gemelli | Gefeill |
| Roma | Rhufain |
| Scribo | Scrifenu |
| Liber | Llyfr |
| Remus | Rhwyf |
| Domo | Dofi |
| Rebello | Rhyfela |
| Pluma | Pluf |
| Catamanus | Cadfan |
| Dimetæ | Dyfed |
| Lima | Llif |
| Lamina | Llafn, &c. |
"We are not to wonder at this analogy of sounds in the primitive distinction of languages. For before the use of writing, which has established the correct form of words, people were only guided by the ear in taking the sound of words, and they pronounced and uttered them again as the organs of their voice were best fitted for it; and it happening that the aptitude and disposition of those organs, peculiar to some people and countries, were various (as we find to this day some nations cannot shape their voice to express all the sounds of another's tongue,) it accordingly affected and inclined some parties of people to speak the same consonants harder or softer, to utter the same vowels broader or narrower, longer or shorter, as they found themselves best disposed to do. And thereupon custom prevailing with particular sets of people, to continue the use of such different pronunciation as they affected, the words so varied came at length to take on them different forms, and to be esteemed and taken as parts of different languages, tho in their origin they were one and the same.[132]
| Hebrew. | Derivatives. | English. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Auch | Awch | Brit. | The edge of a sword |
| Even | Maen | A stone | |
| Agam or Leagam | Lagam | Corn. | A pool or lake |
| Ivah | Deis-yfu | Br. | To desire |
| Auor | Awyr | Lightened air | |
| Ano | Yno | Then | |
| Achei | Achau | Brethren or kindred | |
| Aedenei | Gwadnau | The soles of the feet | |
| Calal | Cyllell | To wound or pierce | |
| Domen | Tomen | Muck or dung | |
| Gehel | —— | Coal | |
| Sâl | Sâl | Br. | Vile or of no account |
| Kadal | Gadael | To forsake or desist | |
| Aggan | Angeion | Greek | A vessel or earthen pot |
| Alaph | 'Alphoō | To find | |
| Bama | Boōmòs | An altar | |
| Hag | Agios | Holy | |
| Hadar | Cadair | Br. | Honor or reverence |
| Katha | Irish | ||
| Hia | Y hi | Br. | She |
| Goph | Corph | A body, corpse | |
| Deraich | Braich | An arm | |
| Raich | |||
| Dad | Diden | Br. | The dug or udder |
| Ager | Aggero | Lat. | To heap together |
| Elah | -Illi, illæ | They, masc. & fem. | |
| Angil | Axilla | The arm pit | |
| Dapsh | Daps | Cheer or dainties | |
| Hen | En! ecce! | Lo! behold! | |
| Phar | Phérō | Greek | To bear or carry |
| Harabon | Arrhabon | A pawn or pledge | |
| Phalat | Phuláttō | To keep or defend | |
| Pathah | Peíthō | To persuade | |
| Gab | Gibbus | Lat. | Bent or crooked |
| Dur | Duro | To endure | |
| Laish | Lis | Greek | A lion |
| Deka | Dekō | To bite | |
| Ephach | Ophis | A serpent | |
| Dath | Deddf | Br. | A law |
| Denah | Dyna | This, that, there it is | |
| Hissah | Ys taw | Be silent | |
| Distaw | |||
| Cala | Claf | To be sick | |
| Clei | Cleas | Irish | Jewels, ornaments |
| Devar | Deveirim | To speak | |
| Ein | Ynys | Br. | Island |
| Hama | Aman | Armor. | Butter |
| Ymenyn | Br. | ||
| Im | Irish | ||
| Ivo | Nava | His enemy | |
| Beala | Mealam | To be wasted | |
| Vock | Vacuus | Lat. | Empty |
| Gwâc | Br. | ||
| Aita | Ydyw | Is, or are | |
| Bar | Bar | Irish | Son |
| Bareh | Bara | Br. | Meat, or victuals |
| Beram | Verùm | Lat. | But, nevertheless |
| Beth | Bwth | Br. | A house, booth |
| Se | She | Irish | He, or him |
| Gaha | Iachau | Br. | To heal, or cure |
| Gad | Càd | An army | |
| Boten | Potten | Br. | The belly |
| Gever | Gwr | A man | |
| Hada | Edō | Greek | To cherish |
| Boa | Báō | To come | |
| Aniah | Anía | Sadness | |
| Charath | Charâttō | To insculp | |
| Maas | Miséō | I hate | |
| Semain | Semaínō | I shew | |
| Aaz | 'Aix | A goat | |
| Aleth | Alaeth | Br. | A curse |
| Elil | Ellylly | Idol | |
| Allun | Llwyn | A grove of oaks | |
| Amunath | Amynedd | Constancy | |
| Ap | Wep | Face | |
| Itho | Iddo | With him | |
| Atun | Odyn | A furnace | |
| Atha | Aeth | Went, or came | |
| Ische | Yssu | To burn | |
| Emaeth | Ymaith | From him | |
| Barach | Parch | To esteem, or bless | |
| Gobah | Coppa | The top | |
| Geven | Cefn | A ridge, or back | |
| Gedad | Gwiwdod | Excellency | |
| Gaiaph | Cau | To shut, or inclose | |
| Evil | —— | Evil | |
| Beasch | —— | Base | |
| Babel | —— | To babble, cabal; and hablar in Spanish, to speak; Lat. fabula; Fr. fariboles, idle talk | |
| Baroth | —— | Broth | |
| Gaah | —— | Gay | |
| Dum | —— | Dumb | |
| Dusch | —— | To dash | |
| Hebisch | —— | To abash | |
| Hua | —— | He, masc. gend. | |
| Haras | —— | To harass | |
| Chittah | —— | Wheat | |
| Mesurah | —— | A measure | |
| Sahap | —— | To sweep | |
| Charath | —— | To write | |
| Saar | —— | A shower | |
| Aanna | —— | To annoy | |
| Phæer | —— | Fair | |
| Pheret | —— | A part, or portion | |
| Phærek | —— | Fierce | |
| Eretz | —— | Earth; Sax. hertha | |
| Sad | —— | Side | |
| Spor | —— | A sparrow | |
| Kinneh | —— | A cane | |
| Kera | —— | To cry | |
| Shekel | —— | Skill | |
| Rechus | —— | Riches | |
| Kre | —— | A crow | |
| Pasa | —— | To pass | |
| Halal | —— | A hole | |
| Catat | —— | To cut | |
| Ragez | —— | To rage | |
| Ragal | —— | To rail, or detract | |
| Maguur | Magwyr | Habitation | |
| Madhevi | Myddfai | Distempers | |
| Doroth | Toreth | Generations, encrease | |
| Dal | Tal | Tall and high | |
| Havah | Y fu | Was, or has been | |
| Mahalac | Malc | A pathway, or a balk | |
| Hilo | Heulo | Shining. Apollo, Sol. | |
| Tor | Toar | Irish. | A boundary, or limit |
| Terfyn | Br. | ||
| Siu | Syw | Resplendent | |
| Achalas | Achles | Defence, Achilles | |
| Machaneh | Machno and Mechain | Places of defence of old in the co. of Montgomery. Penmachno | |
| Chorau | Crau | Holes | |
| Choresh | Cors | Br. | A place full of small wood or reeds |
| Nodah | Nodi | To make known, or note | |
| Jadha | Addef | To know | |
| 'Oída | Greek | ||
| Hathorath | Athrawiaeth | Br. | Discipline |
| Jch | Eich | Your, or your own | |
| Jared | I wared | Descended | |
| Cha | Chwi | You | |
| Jain | Gwîn | Wine | |
| Toledouth | Tylwyth | Generations | |
| Lus | Llyfu | To go away, or avoid | |
| Caolath | Colled | A loss | |
| Hounil | Ynnill | Gain | |
| Jester | Ystyr | Consideration | |
| Jadadh | Gwahodd | To invite | |
| Cafodoth | Cyfoeth | Honours, or wealth | |
| Cis | Cîst | A chest | |
| Bar | Far | Lat. | Bread corn |
| Bara | Br. | ||
| Shevah | —— | Seven | |
| Dakar | —— | A dagger | |
| Hinnek | —— | To hang | |
| Shelet | —— | A shield | |
| Hever | —— | Over, or above | |
| Shibbar | —— | To shiver, or quake | |
| Jiled | —— | [133]A child | |
| Chœbel | —— | A cable | |
| Parak | —— | To break | |
| Gannaf | —— | A knave, or a thief | |
| Coll | —— | All | |
| Hannah | —— | To annoy, or hurt | |
| Eth | Etos | Greek | A year, or age |
| Ætas | Lat. | ||
| San | Cœna | A supper | |
| Nabal | Nebulo | A churl | |
| Mot | Motus | Lat. | Motion |
| Bath | Batos | Greek | A thorn |
| Eden | Edone | Pleasure | |
| Kolah | Kleiō | To praise | |
| Sas | Ses | A moth | |
| Phac | Phake | Lentil | |
| Skopac | Scopō | To speculate | |
| Jounec | Jevangc | Br. | A suckling |
| Hamohad | Ammod | Covenant | |
| Parad | Pared | A partition | |
| Keren | Corn | A horn | |
| Kefel | Cefail | The armpit | |
| Me-Ab | Mâb | Son, or from a father | |
| Luung | Llyngcu | To swallow | |
| Temutha | Difetha | Destruction | |
| Ceremluach | Cromlech | A sacrificing stone | |
| Hamule | Aml | Plenty, or store | |
| Mah? | Mae? | What? where? how? | |
| Magal | Maglu | To betray | |
| Makel | Magl | A staff | |
| Meria | Mêr | Fat, or marrow | |
| Mout | Mudo | To remove | |
| Meth | Methu | To die, or fail | |
| Mar | Maer | A lord | |
| Marad | Brad | [134]Rebellion | |
| Nafe | Nef | Joyful | |
| Taphilu | Taflu | To cast | |
| Hanes | Hanes | To signify | |
| Nevath | Neuadd | Habitation | |
| Jissal | Isel or Iselu | To throw down | |
| Naoaph | Nwyf | Lust | |
| Nadu | Nadu | They moan | |
| Sethar | Sathru | To throw under feet | |
| Heber | Aber | A ford, or passage | |
| Nucchu | Nychu | Being smitten | |
| Nuu | Nhwy | They, or those | |
| Naodhad | Nodded | To escape | |
| Gadah | Gadaw | Br. | To pass by |
| Niued | Niweid | To spoil | |
| Goloth | Golwyth | Burnt offerings | |
| Mohal | Moel | Top of a hill | |
| Galas | Glwys | Pleasant | |
| Hasem | Asen | A rib, or bone | |
| Garevath | Gwarth | Shame | |
| Taphug | Diffyg | Want, or defect | |
| Phoreth | Ffrwyth | Fruit, or effect | |
| Pach | Bach | A crooked stick | |
| Pinnouth | Pennaeth | Chief, or uppermost | |
| Phinnah | Ffynnu | To prosper | |
| Path | Peth | A part or portion | |
| Philegesh | Ffiloges | A concubine | |
| Caton | Cwttyn | Short and little | |
| Cir | Caer | A walled town | |
| Reith | Rhîth | Appearance | |
| Tireneh | Trîn | To feed and look after | |
| Ragah | Rhwygo | To tear, rag | |
| Rasah | Râs and Rhâd | Grace, or good will | |
| Semen | Saim | Fat, or oil | |
| Saraph | Sarph | A serpent | |
| Sac | Sâch | A [135]sack | |
| Phuk | Ffûg | Disguise | |
| Fucus | Lat. | ||
| Phærek | Ferocia | Fierceness | |
| Pinnah | Pinna | Battlement | |
| Pigger | Piger fuit | Lazy | |
| Naca | Neco | To slay | |
| Ad | Ad | Unto | |
| Nut | Nuto | To nod | |
| Darag | Trechō | Greek | To run to, or come at |
| Bala | Palai | Some time ago | |
| Hannak | 'Agchō | To strangle | |
| Tagu | Br. | ||
| Naar | Nearos | Greek | New or lately |
| Agab | 'Agapaō | To love | |
| Pacha | Pege | Greek | A fountain |
| Parash | Phrasō | To declare, phrase | |
| Kol | Kalèō G. Galw | B. | To call |
| Mashal | Basileuō | Greek | To reign |
| Shareka | Syrinx | A syringe | |
| Bekarim | Pecora | Lat. | Cattle |
| Ahel | Aula | A hall | |
| Carpas | Carbasus | Fine linen, or lawn | |
| Æsh | Æstes La. Tês | Br. | Heat, or hot weather |
| Gibar | Guberno | Lat. | To govern |
| Parah | Vireo | To look green | |
| Ki | Quia | Wherefore | |
| Olam | Olim | Of old | |
| Golem | Glomus | A clew of thread | |
| Amam | Ymam | Mother, mamma | |
| Coaphar | Gwobr | Reward | |
| Cala | Caula | Lat. | A sheepfold |
| Sarch | Serch | Br. | Lustful |
| Goliath | Glwth | A bed | |
| Pathehen | Puttain | A whore | |
| Burgad | Bwrgais | A burgess | |
| Terag | Drwg | Bad, or evil | |
| Dasgar | Dysgl | A dish | |
| Shiovang | Sionge | Honorable | |
| Anas | Annos | To instigate | |
| Tam | Dim | Nothing | |
| Pherch | Y ferch | A daughter | |
| Tetuva | Edifar | Penitent | |
| Leamor | Ar lafar | Saying | |
| Casas | Ceisio | To search | |
| Cark | Carchar | To bind; Lat. carcer | |
| Kam | Cammu | To bend | |
| Caffa | Cyff | A beam | |
| Cevel | Ar gyfyl | Near | |
| Dumga | Dammeg | A simile | |
| Tor and Sor | Tarw | A bull; Lat. taurus | |
| Turna | Teyrn | A prince, tyrant | |
| Manos | Myddyn | A mountain | |
| Malas | Melys | Sweet | |
| Palac | Plygu | To fold | |
| Banc | Mainc | A bench | |
| Malal | Malu | To grind | |
| Marak | Marc | A note | |
| Cadif | Gwadu | To tell a lie | |
| Tohum | Eyfn | Depth | |
| Colar | Coler | A neck band, collar | |
| Corontha | Coron | A crown | |
| Berek | Brêg | A breach | |
| Bagad | Bagad | A great many | |
| Arach | Arogli | To smell | |
| Nagash | Yn agos | To approach | |
| Ciliah | Ceilliau | Stones | |
| Gevr | Cawr | A giant | |
| Kec | Cêg | A mouth | |
| Kun | Cwyno | To lament | |
| Natsar | Dinystr | Destruction, or ruin | |
| Pinnah | Pinagl | Pinnacle | |
| Mahalal | Mawl or Moli | To praise | |
| Hedel | Hoedl | Life | |
| Halal | Haul | Sun | |
| Gavel | Gafael | Tenure | |
| Lashadd | Glasaidd | Blueish | |
| Gerem | Grym, grymmus | Bony or strong | |
| Masac | Cym-myscu | To mingle | |
| Gana | Canu | To sing; Lat. cano | |
| Celimah | Calumnia | Lat. | Reproach |
| Netz | Nisus | Endeavor | |
| Ptsel | Psileō | To make bear | |
| Shushan | Souson | Lilly | |
| Shecan | Sceneō | To dwell in tabernacles | |
| Kalal | Gwael | Br. | Vile |
| Taffi | Diffoddi | To extinguish | |
| Tselem | Delw | An image | |
| Hoberi | Obry | Men over against | |
| Aen-adon | Anudon | Disclaiming God, or perjury |
Here are about fifty English words, which, from their near resemblance to the Hebrew, both in sound and signification, must have been borrowed from the latter in modern ages, or been preserved thro successive generations from Heber to the present times. But they could not have been introduced into English in modern ages, for many of them are found in the other branches of the Gothic, the German, Danish and Swedish; and it can be proved that they existed in the original Gothic or northern language. For example, our word earth is found in Hebrew, and in all the dialects of the Gothic. Hebrew, ert or ertz; Welsh, d'aira; Greek, éra; Latin, terra; Gothic, airthai; ancient German, erth or herth; Saxon, eartho; Low Dutch, aerden; High Dutch, erden; Swiss, erden; Scotch, airth; Norwegian or Norse, iorden; Danish, iorden; Swedish, iordenne; Irelandic, iordu. In the pronunciation of these words there is little difference, except such as is common to the several languages. The ancients aspirated their words more frequently than the moderns; hence the old Germans pronounced the word with h, as appears by a passage in Tacitus, De Mor. Germ. 40. "Nec quidquam notabile in singulis, nisi quod in commune Herthum, id est terram, matrem colunt."—The modern nations of the north generally write and pronounce d where we write th; as erden; and the i of the Norwegians answers to our e or y, so that iorden is pronounced yorden; and it is remarkable that many of the common English people still pronounce earth, yerth.
The Hebrew turna is found in the British teyrn, signifying a prince or ruler. This word is the root of the Greek turannos, the Latin tyrannus, the British dyrnas, a kingdom or jurisdiction, which is still preserved in the modern Welsh deyrnas; and we see the word in the name of the celebrated British commander, Vortighern. Our word tyrant is derived from it, but it is always used in a bad sense.
In the Hebrew rechus or rekus, we have the origin of the English rich, riches, and the termination rick in bishop-rick, and anciently, in king-rick; the word originally denoting landed property, in which wealth was supposed to consist, and afterwards jurisdiction. From the same word are derived the Anglo Saxon ryc; the Franco Theotisc, rihhi; the Cimbric, rickie; the ancient Irish or Gaedhlig, riogda; the Low Dutch, rijcke; the Frisic, rick; the German, reich; the Swiss, rijch; the Danish, rige; the Norwegian, riga; the Swedish, ricke; the French, riche, and the Spanish, riccos, a general name for nobility, or wealthy proprietors of land.