"Maybe in order to understand mankind, we have to look at the word itself: "Mankind". Basically, it's made up of two separate words - "mank" and "ind". What do these words mean? It's a mystery, and that's why so is mankind."
-- Jack Handy
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Would that be "Jack Hanaday" I'm not sure how to spell his name either, but I think I know who you mean.
At any rate... he needed to break it down a bit more.
'mankind' is a composit word made up from more than just two other words.
'ma' 'nk' 'in' 'd' I believe to be the proper disasymbly.
'ma' Most scholars believe this dervies from the same root as the word 'mother' or 'mamal' and gives reference to the fact that our young are nutured by thier mothers, or at least tend to be.
'nk' is a bit more problimatic, however several recent iquires have raised the possiblity that this word shares a root with our word for 'think'. This may mean that we have always though too highly of our own reasoning skills, and arrogently asume that we are the only thinking species upon the planet.
'in' Could have numerous implications. It maybe a reminder of kin, or of sin, or of tin. No one is sure why we needed to be reminded of tin. While arguments exist for each word individualy the most facinating arguments are for the whole collection. Although they tend to become preaty weak when they try to support the word tin. That part remains a mystery.
And last, 'd'.. the suffix that means 'like' or 'kind' and makes this word a label for.. ?! What were we talking about?
Dan the Man.
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