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Week 7
Topic Started: Nov 12 2012, 06:17 AM (12 Views)
Jesse-James
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Dissendium (dis-EN-dee-um) is a charm that has been known to open the secret passageway behind the statue of the Humpbacked Witch in Hogwarts straight into the cellar of Honeydukes in Hogsmeade. Many do not realise that this spell reveals hidden places/secrets. One could use this spell anywhere to find if anything is hidden away.

Dissendium is a curious incantation with an shadowy etymology. At first it seems to be a phonetic spelling of the English word "descend" with a common Latin noun ending attached (-ium), however, this is not consistent with its known spell effects. It is also vaguely reminiscent of the word "dissident", meaning to be against the laws (a possible reference to its mischievous use when opening the sceret passage to Honeydukes).

The whole word could be derived from the English "Dissemble" which means "to conceal, to disguise the true nature or motives of". This would seem off at first (since the spell seems to do the opposite - expose) but makes more sense when one considers the secretive context in which it was being used.

It could also come from Latin in three parts: the first part: dissocio, which means to "part, separate, divide" in its verb form (just like the English verb that is derived from it - to dissociate); en, meaning "behold, look, here!"; and Dium, which could refer to the sun (which shines light on things, exposing them; this is similar to the spell effects) and normally translates as day (or, more appropriately, today) but can also be used as the command now. Altogether, therefore, Dissendium could hence read roughly as "part/separate here, now" or "part and behold!".

Finally, it could also be based on the Latin discessum, "departed" (being the neuter perfect passive participle of discēdō). "To depart" refers to deviation, the movement of something away from something else, including itself.

Homework

Which definition do you think it comes from? Why? If you think none, please give your own version of its etymology.
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