Word Nerd 4: Entitlement and Accountability
Interestingly enough, once I did this video I noticed that there was more about how quantitative account gave birth to the qualitative account:
“From the notion of “rendering an account” comes the sense “statement answering for conduct” (mid-14c.) and the general sense “narration, recital of facts,” attested by 1610s (e.g. Narration in books). Also from c. 1300 in reference to answering for one’s conduct, especially at the Last Judgment. Meaning “estimation, consideration,” especially in the eyes of others, is from late 14c.”
So much to unpack here, but one day I'll circle back around and delve more into why these words were separated into two different origins when they began by serving the same purpose and being of the same etymological context.
