Note 957 — Chapter IX · THE LANDS

Peter Comestor stated that on the third day of the Creation the earth appeared and that it bears five names, the derivation of which he explained as follows: (1) arida, because the earth appeared (quia apparuit); (2) humus, because it was still humid; (3) terra, because it was trodden upon (quia teritur) by the feet of animals; (4) solum, because, of the four elements, it forms the one that is solid; and, finally, (5) tellus, because it endures (quia tolerat) the labors of man (Hist. schol., Gen. 5). See Zöckler, Geschichte, vol. i, 1877, p. 418. These are typical examples of free etymology. For Hildegard of Bingen on qualities of different kinds of earth or soil, see above, p. 232.