Why is a patient called a patient?
By Jojo
@Sojourn (13832)
India
May 4, 2019 11:43am CST
Hello Mylotters, Happy Saturday to you all. So the discussion topic is a bit quirky . But I would still like to have some opinions (however illogical it may be ) regarding the question put in the title . I think he/she is expected to be patient for getting cured of the disease.
My mind is happy today as we have been planning for a trip in upcoming July with family. It might be a week long domestic trip to a beach. My father particularly trying to avoid the mountains as it will be the monsoon season and chances of landslides might be there.
Are you planning to go anywhere in the coming months?
13 people like this
15 responses
@owlwings (43915)
• Cambridge, England
4 May 19
The question in the title is far from illogical. The word 'patient' (as a noun) comes from the present participle of the Latin verb 'patior', meaning "I am suffering". It is when one uses the word as an adjective that the logic is hard to find and one needs patience to discover it. Of course, it is because a patient person 'suffers' the pain of waiting for something to happen without complaining. Does that mean, therefore, that an 'impatient' person ('in-' is Latin prefix meaning 'not' and it becomes 'im-' before words beginning with 'm', 'p' and 'b') is not suffering? Ah, that is where language ceases to be particularly logical! Also, the word 'suffer' has changed its meaning in English. It used to mean 'to tolerate' or 'allow' as well as to experience pain or something unpleasant. It was a worry to me, as a child, that Jesus should 'suffer the little children' to come to him. Surely, he meant that he wanted them to come to him?
I am not planning to go anywhere. I am patiently waiting for the mountains to come to me.
3 people like this
@Porcospino (31367)
• Denmark
4 May 19
We wanted to visit Sweden during the summer, but my husband is too busy, so we will postpone the trip and travel later instead. I think we will stay here most of the summer and maybe visit some friends or spend time on the beach.
1 person likes this
@allknowing (130088)
• India
5 May 19
Have not been on a holiday for awhile now and no plans yet
1 person likes this
@Hate2Iron (15731)
• Canada
4 May 19
I have to be the least patient on the planet and as far as a vacation... we are still in the thinking mode... but just maybe!!!
1 person likes this
@DesirousDreamer (34784)
• Peoria, Arizona
4 May 19
The question is, which version of the word came first, did someone have to become patient or were they a patient. Probably the word having to be patient came way before being a patient.
Nope, no plans! I never go on vacation haha
1 person likes this
@sunrisefan (28650)
• Philippines
5 May 19
He/she has to be patient in waiting to be attended too :)
1 person likes this