Translations:Wiktionnaire:Actualités/017-août-2016/48/en

The etymologies of words are often rather unusual. For example, délire (and the English translation "delirium") come from the Latin delirium — nothing out of place here — which itself comes from lira, which is the furrow created by a plough, with the prefix -de, which implies a movement away from something. One might wonder what a furrow has to do with it all. As it turns out, this comes from the legend of the foundation of Rome. Romulus is said to have delineated the boundaries of the city by digging a sacred furrow around its circumference. Remus, his brother, mocked him, followed by a dispute, in which he crossing the furrow repeatedly to show its uselessness. Romulus, growing frustrated, stabbed his brother with a sword.