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The etymological fallacy: a word's origin does not fix its meaning

Did Jesus Die on a Cross or a Stake? Here's the Evidence. 00:04:38 – 00:05:39

The core linguistic error in the JW argument is the etymological fallacy — assuming that the root meaning of a word is always its current or proper meaning. Winger explains this is a recognized fallacy in linguistics.

Example: the English word "consider" originally derived from roots meaning "to examine the stars," yet no one today uses it in that sense. Root meaning and actual usage are distinct. The etymological fallacy applies directly to the JW use of stauros.

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