I just checked your masculine and feminine ending positing and it’s just what I wanted! I will try to add to it and make flash cards of all of them.

I have been to the stoa in Athens. Your post has been very helpful, once again.

Thanks,

Vince

The name St.Basil (in Italian San Basilio), and the words “basilica” and “basilico” all come from the Greek word “basileus” meaning “king”, so they are all related. The original Greek word for basilica was “basilike stoa” meaning “royal porch”, and was used to describe the building where law courts and assemblies were held. The Romans developed its architecture into a public building formed by an oblong hall with a double colonnade and an apse, which from the 4th century AD was adopted as a Christian building. You can find out more about the name Basil on this website: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basil

As for words that change their meanings depending on their masculine and feminine ending, I wrote a small blog some time ago: http://www.transparent.com/italian/maschile-o-femminile/ Of course, you can keep adding to this list.

A presto!

Is there any relationship between ‘basilica’, ‘basilico’ and ‘St. Basil’?

It might be interesting to have a list of common words that are totally different in meaning when you change from masculine to feminine.

Vince

Also, I didn’t know that balsam was used for embalming.

Grazie mille, Serena, for a good post!