Note 161 — Chapter VI · METAPHOR.

See Bunsen’s Outlines, ii. 142 seqq. Dyaus, θεὸς, deus, &c., from the root div, to shine. The derivation of our English word “God” is doubtful; but I fear the beautiful belief that it is deduced from “good” must be abandoned. Grimm (Deutsch Myth. p. 12) shows that there is a grammatical difference between the words in the Teutonic language signifying “God” and “good;” if the Persian “Khoda” can be derived from the Zend “qvadáta,” Sanskrit “svadata,” à se datus, increatus, a very appropriate etymology would be given.