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METHODS in WORD MEANINGS |
RASHIS COVERED: Dt28-37c Dt28-37b Dt07-02b SHARP remarks
VERY BRIEF SUMMARY
One of Rashis main goals is to explain unusual nuances of
words the same way a dictionary does. Several methods are
illustrated in this posting: Here are some sample Rashis
-- To EXAMPLE someone is to MAKE AN EXAMPLE of them
-- To SHARP an idea is to make PITHY/SHARP remarks on it
-- TOMORROW:FUTURE::HONEY:SWEET::BREAD::FOOD:WATER::LIQUIDS
-- To GRACE someone is to say HOW GRACEFUL (s)he is, that is,
to say nice things about someone.
Thus Dt28-37c states JEWS WILL BECOME PROVERBS--so e.g people
who have been tortured will be told YOU HAVE BEEN HOLOCASTED
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TODAYS RASHI RULE: WORD MEANINGS
TODAYS RASHI SUBRULE: NEW MEANINGS
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BRIED DESCRIPTION OF RULE and SUBRULE
One of Rashis 6 main goals was to function like a dictionary
and present the meanings of words. In presenting the meanings
of words, Rashi, very often had to EXTEND a given meaning to
a new meaning. There are rules and patterns governing such
extensions. We present below 8 methods for EXTENDING MEANING
We also present 13 methods for INFERRING meaning. These 21
methods, together, are the toolkit by which Rashi, following
Chazal, gives new insights on meaning.
STANDARD EXAMPLE & TODAYS EXAMPLE
GRAMMAR: SEMANTIC TRANSFORMATIONS:
Here are 3 ways for an OBJECT to become an activity
--TO MAKE the object (eg to flower)
--TO USE the object (Eg to hammer)
--TO REMOVE the object (eg to dust)
I refer to these methods as SEMANTIC TRANSFORMATIONS.
It is the method by which an OBJECT(noun) becomes an
ACTIVITY (verb). Rashis job is to clarify WHICH
semantic transformation is being used. The list below
also contains transformations of VERBS and ADJECTIVES
The last 4 rows contain new Rashis which we are adding.
STANDARD REFERENCES FOR THIS RULE
http://www.RashiYomi.com/naming-8.htm
(8 methods for naming objects)
http://www.RashiYomi.com/means-32.htm
(13 methods for Proving a meaning)
The Rashi calendar may be found at
http://www.RashiYomi.com/calendar1.htm
The NAMING & MEANING Daily Rashi series were presented
in June and July 2001.
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| VERSE |
RASHI |
| Nu04-13b |
To Dust= REMOVE Dust |
| Ex16-20b |
To Worm=To PRODUCE Worms |
| Dt07-02b |
To GRACE= To say NICE THINGS about someone*1 |
| Dt28-37b |
To EXAMPLE=To MAKE an EXAMPLE of someone*2 |
| Dt28-37c |
To SHARP=Coin new phrases based on vivid experience*3 |
| Dt06-07a |
You shall SHARP your learning*4 |
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COMMENTS |
*1 That is to make the person appear GRACEFUL*10
*2 Thus a nation that experienced an unusual death loss
would be said to have been HOLOCASTED. The Jewish HOLOCAST
is therefore used as the basis of an EXAMPLE for any other
HOLOCAST. The Hebrew word Mem-Shin-Lamed actually means
EXAMPLE. So the ENGLISH and BIBLICAL metaphor are the same.
*3 e.g. At Yitzchak Rabins funeral the American President said
--We have had our Yitzchak sacrificed
The president was making a pun on the sacrifice of Isaac
by Abraham. By so doing the President eulogized Rabin who
was therefore compared to a Patriarch.
The President accomplished this effect by using a SHARP
expression. The Sharp expression vividly portrays the
death of Rabin.
*4 This refers to the practice of making SHARP comments
that summarize principles governing broad legal areas.
An example of such a SHARP legal statement might be
POSSESSION IS 9 TENTHS OF THE LAW
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