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Post by Somak Meitei on Jun 11, 2014 11:10:41 GMT 5.5
Hi
I am looking up the meanings of these three words-- state,condition and situation in the dictionary, but still their proper uses do not come into my mind--the reason being that I am the type without etymological knowledge--I assure it,and their neanings are synonymous to me. An example that may be contextual to my problem is: They are rendered in a state/condition/situation of homelessness and destitution.There will be a correct choice, but I would like you to help me with what I want to know why that 'choice'is.
Thank you a lot in advance
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Post by Thoithoi O'Cottage on Jun 11, 2014 11:55:22 GMT 5.5
Etymology:
“State” etymologically meant “to stand”. Latin “stare” means “to stand”. From “stare” derives Latin “status” and English “status”. From Latin status derived Anglo-French “estat”, from which derived the Middle English “stat”. Later, with French influence “stat” became “state”.
The state of your mind is where your mind stands. The state of affairs of a country is how/where the country stands with regard to its particular affairs.
“Situation” (first used in 15c.) etymologically means “place, position, or location” and it derived either from Middle French “situation” or directly from Medieval Latin “situationem” or “situation” (a position, situation), noun of the stem “situare” (to place, locate” ). "Situation", thus, has a sense something being in a surrounding or a context.
“Condition” (as a noun; first used in 14c.) is from Anglo-French “condicion” (stipulation, behavior, social status), from Latin “condicionem” (agreement, situation) from “condicere” [=com (together) + dicere (to speak; the root of “diction” )], meaning to speak with, or talk together. [To help get more sense of it, just see this “situation”: A and B don’t talk with each other—they are not on good terms with each other. However, A and C, and B and C are good friends—they always talk. What is the condition of friendship between A and B?]
"State" and "condition" have a closer semantic affinity.
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Post by Thoithoi O'Cottage on Jun 11, 2014 12:33:15 GMT 5.5
Well, the meanings of words change, and the current meaning of a word most often is different from what it used to be. However, etymology helps us to understand more deeply about words, thought there are things it cannot help, and in fact that area may not be etymology's concern. Yes, etymology helps us in sensing the nuances in the current meanings of state, condition and situation . However, as the question is focused on "differences" while the contextual sentence provided seems to focus on their similarity (these words have a semantic overlap, as much as they have differences), I don't think etymology has much to do about this once we have known their origins and how their meanings changed in course of time. Well, coming to the point, the words have similar meanings, but while one is more appropriate in a semantic context, the others may be less appropriate, while there may not be a definitive/conclusive explanation for their being less or not appropriate. It also depends on the person's style, which reflects his/her personality. I would say a state of homelessness and destruction ("Destruction" is very vague.) rather than "a condition of homelessness... though it is not wrong. I would even much less (if not never) say a situation of homelessness However, it all depends on the context. Could you kindly give us a wider context? One sentence can't quite provide it. |
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Post by Thoithoi O'Cottage on Jun 11, 2014 12:47:07 GMT 5.5
Clinically, a condition can be pathological. Psychosis is a medical condition. It is a specific condition of the mind. "State" is not used pathologically. You can be in any state of mind, and our minds change from one state to another, every now and then. "Condition" refers to a mode of the mind when it spans a longer stretch of time.
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Post by Thoithoi O'Cottage on Jun 11, 2014 12:53:14 GMT 5.5
If we liberate the words from the context/example sentence you have provided, and put them in several other contexts as well, I think their differences can be sort of surveyed.
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