http://linguistica.tribe.net/thread/7ddeb8e5-ce5f-47c3-9b2d-c50768b44cf6?format=rss Tribe.net. Local Connections http://linguistica.tribe.net/thread/7ddeb8e5-ce5f-47c3-9b2d-c50768b44cf6#cd58ba31-955c-4534-8fbe-2f8390ef6dc8 A quick googling shows that some folks think there is a connection. Some facts and some questions. 1. Arabic ustaadh is a loanword from Persian; when did it come into Arabic? 2. A detailed etymology, in Spanish: http://elies.rediris.es/elies22/cap72.htm 3. Was the loanword used (as an honorific) in Mozarabic? Wed, 03 Sep 2008 12:41:13 GMT http://linguistica.tribe.net/thread/7ddeb8e5-ce5f-47c3-9b2d-c50768b44cf6#cd58ba31-955c-4534-8fbe-2f8390ef6dc8 jheem 2008-09-03T12:41:13Z http://linguistica.tribe.net/thread/7ddeb8e5-ce5f-47c3-9b2d-c50768b44cf6#467f93b7-b4b6-4f09-81b9-e326c1f208ef oh, okay. i was thinking it might've come from the Arabic honorific "ustad". Tue, 02 Sep 2008 15:02:06 GMT http://linguistica.tribe.net/thread/7ddeb8e5-ce5f-47c3-9b2d-c50768b44cf6#467f93b7-b4b6-4f09-81b9-e326c1f208ef Holden S. 2008-09-02T15:02:06Z http://linguistica.tribe.net/thread/7ddeb8e5-ce5f-47c3-9b2d-c50768b44cf6#db3286fd-9e06-4415-b810-67ddc24f19c0 It's an abbreviation: usted < vusted < vuestra merced 'your (pl) mercy'. Tue, 02 Sep 2008 12:32:57 GMT http://linguistica.tribe.net/thread/7ddeb8e5-ce5f-47c3-9b2d-c50768b44cf6#db3286fd-9e06-4415-b810-67ddc24f19c0 jheem 2008-09-02T12:32:57Z http://linguistica.tribe.net/thread/7ddeb8e5-ce5f-47c3-9b2d-c50768b44cf6#dc11b95e-62de-45a2-9398-1e9dcf6f68f8 can anyone tell me the etymology of the Spanish word "usted"? Tue, 02 Sep 2008 03:29:32 GMT http://linguistica.tribe.net/thread/7ddeb8e5-ce5f-47c3-9b2d-c50768b44cf6#dc11b95e-62de-45a2-9398-1e9dcf6f68f8 Holden S. 2008-09-02T03:29:32Z