1. People are for the most part unaware of the origin of certain terms. Consequently we have included a number in this work for their informational value.

Certain terms for human beings (De quibusdam vocabulis hominum) Although the origin of terms, whence they come, has received some accounting by philosophers – such that by derivation ‘human being’ (homo) is so called from ‘humanity’ (humanitas), or ‘wise person’ (sapiens) from ‘wisdom’ (sapientia), because wisdom comes first, then the wise person – nevertheless a different, special cause is manifest in the origin of certain terms, such as homo from ‘soil’ (humus), from which the word homo properly is so called. From such derivations, as examples, we have set forth a number in this work.

A. 2. Aeros (i.e. heros, “demi-god, hero”), a strong and wise man. Author (auctor), so called from ‘augmenting’ (augere); moreover, auctor cannot be used in the feminine gender – for there are some terms that cannot be inflected in the feminine, such as ‘runner’ (cursor). Agent (actor), from acting (agere). 3. Foster-son (alumnus), so called from fostering (alere), although both he who fosters and he who is fostered can be called alumnus – that is, he who nourishes and he who is nourished – but still, the better use is for one who is nourished. 4. Friend (amicus), by derivation as if from the phrase ‘guardian of the spirit’ (animi custos). 5.