Cool! So does "cretin" come from someone whose behavior is so SEPARATE from acceptable behavior or is there another root (maybe originally an Athenian looking down their nose at someone from Crete, for ex)?
Ha, good question! While I like your hypotheses better, the word seems to be derived from a French corruption of the word Christian and did not initially carry a derogatory meaning.
Cool! So does "cretin" come from someone whose behavior is so SEPARATE from acceptable behavior or is there another root (maybe originally an Athenian looking down their nose at someone from Crete, for ex)?
Ha, good question! While I like your hypotheses better, the word seems to be derived from a French corruption of the word Christian and did not initially carry a derogatory meaning.
Interesting! Makes sense! :)