seny

Catalan

FWOTD – 7 August 2018

From Old Catalan sen, from Old Occitan sen, from Vulgar Latin *sennus, from Frankish *sinn, ultimately from Proto-Germanic *sinnaz, possibly influenced by Latin sensus (“sense”).

seny m (plural senys)

sense, common sense
- 2011, Jaume Vallcorba i Rocosa, Obra gramatical i lingüística completa, L'Abadia de Montserrat (→ISBN), page 33
  Quan no obrem d'acord amb el seny ho sabem: és quan hem fet les coses, per un desig, per un impuls o, en fi, per una passió, petita o grossa, temptadora o abassegadora.
  When we don't act in accordance with common sense, we know it: it's when we've done things for a desire, for an urge, or, in short, for a passion; small or great, tempting or engrossing.
Synonym: sentit

Antonym: rauxa
(obsolete) sense, sensory perception
- 1968, Rodolfo Llorena y Jordana, Com han estat i com som els catalans
  Esclaus dels cinc senys corporals: veure, oir, olorar, gustar i palpar, que configuren el món i la vida.
  [We are] slaves to the five bodily senses: seeing, hearing, smelling, tasting and touching, which shape the world and life.
Synonym: sentit

From Old Occitan senh, from Latin signum (“signal”), of Proto-Indo-European origin. The meaning of "bell" is attested from the 6th century onwards. Doublet of the borrowing signe.

seny m (plural senys)

(archaic) sign
Synonym: senyal
(archaic) large bell
- 1908, Joan Segura, Historia d'Igualada, page 150
  Lo seny del lladre era un toch de campana que's feya al cap-vespre. Per broma devía dirse'n lo seny del lladre, com si diguessen que al fer aquell toch començava la nit, la hora deis lladres.
  The thief bell was the a bell that tolled at nightfall. As a joke it was to be called the thief bell, as if to say that when it tolls, night, the time of thieves, began.
Synonym: campana