Talk:Waldo

English etymology is questioned.
Hello lexicographers of Wiktionary,

I would like to begin by thanking all for their contributions and much appreciated work. Thanks to one and all. I know this voluntary effort to publish a public dictionary is an immense undertaking of many thousands of minds and a worthy pursuit of learned gentleman. I use the website frequently to learn the true meaning of words by examination of their etymologies, and it has been a great help and appreciated resource for myself and countless others.

However, as an avid reader of Ralph Waldo Emerson and admirer of Peter Waldo, I must take exception with the erroneous etymology presented on this entry, Waldo. I have attempted to edit the page to include the accurate etymology of these gentlemen's name, but apparently I lack in understanding as to how to format my research correctly as to avoid Chuck Entz from reverting the edits, see his talk page.

Since attempting to add the alternate etymology of Waldo via Valdo→Voldemar\Valter, I have also discovered superior academic sources which evidence the current etymology for this name is indeed entirely incorrect on Wiktionary. Please see, "WEALHþEOW" AND RELATED NAMES, E. V. Gordon, Medium Ævum Vol. 4, No. 3 (OCTOBER 1935), pp. 169-175 (7 pages), published by: Society for the Study of Medieval Languages and Literature (https://www.jstor.org/stable/43625959) and PASE Domesday (https://domesday.pase.ac.uk/Domesday?op=5&nameinfo_id=2157) which purports:

According to von Feilitzen, this name derives from Old Norse Valþíofr. His view was endorsed in a subsequent article (Gordon 1935) which explores the etymology of that name. Gordon argues that the first element Val- derives ultimately from Germanic *wala- meaning ‘chosen’ or ‘beloved’; and that the second element þíofr meant ‘servant’, but was understood to carry the more specialised meaning ‘servant of a god or supernatural power’ when used in personal nomenclature. Gordon’s principal purpose was to show that the name Wealhþeow which occurs in the Beowulf poem was not formed by combining the Old English name elements wealh (meaning ‘British’ or ‘foreigner’) and þeow (meaning ‘servant’ or ‘slave’). Rather, it was formed by combining Old Norse name elements which meant literally a ‘chosen servant’ devoted to a god or to a higher power: a more plausible name for a Scandinavian queen. It follows that Waltheof should not be misconstrued as a combination of Old English wealh and þeof (meaning ‘thief’), and that it would have been an appropriate name for an Anglo-Scandinavian landholder.

As can be seen the etymology of Waldo via Waltheof, from Old English weald (“power”) + þēof (“thief”), is misconstrued and should rather be from Old Norse Valþíofr from Germanic *wala- ("beloved") + Old Norse þíofr ("servant (of a god)"). Also, the alternate derivation of Waldo via Peter Waldo AKA Peter Valdo, from Voldemar\Valter, ultimately from *waldą (“might, power, authority”) + *harjaz (“army leader, commander, warrior”), is also valid

I believe both the current erroneous etymology should be removed, and the Domesday etymology and the alternate "Valdo" etymology should be added, any help in doing so to increase the quality and rigor of this Wiktionary entry would be greatly appreciated.

Regards,

WaldoWraldaWolderGodsPower (talk) 20:13, 24 August 2022 (UTC) WaldoWraldaWolderGodsPower (talk) 20:13, 24 August 2022 (UTC)


 * Also, I would like to note that the German version of "Where's Waldo?" is "Wo ist Walter?" WaldoWraldaWolderGodsPower (talk) 20:28, 24 August 2022 (UTC)