CAPRI - A WORD LESSON

I love when I’m traveling, and I see an original reference to a Greek word that still identifies a concept used today.

On the streets of Capri for example, as we strolled around sightseeing, we went into this pharmacy, which was more like a convenience shop found in the states.  All sorts of necessities but mostly over the counter medicines.  Look at the picture and the four ways pharmacy is used.  Apotheke is the Greek and the original.  The Greek word apotheke means a store - from apo "from" and theke "place for putting things". It was used by the historian Thucydides about 410BC. In Latin it became apotheca - but from there it developed in two ways. Sometimes a word's original form remains clear. 

Here is an exact understanding from PUB MD:

Apothecary is a combination of IE * apo- (separate) and * dhē (to place) which gave rise to the Greek term apothēkē, which originally meant a warehouse for food and wine. Pharmacy is a combination of the Greek term * pharama form IE * bher- (to charm, enchant) and -(a)-ko- resulting in * pharmako- (magic, charm, cure, potion, medicine) and in Latin pharmacie. Chemist's shop is the English version of an American drugstore.

The beauty of travel is you can learn about our world and how we are all connected, and how what’s old is new and what is new is old. Cheers!