The verb to play is important to me. I like to play games, play tricks; I surround myself with playful people.

To me, the act of playing is characterized by a quality of innocence. Participants seek to cause enjoyment and laughter for other participants as well as for themselves. This, however, is not how the word started.

In Old English the noun plega and verb plegan were defined by something as broad as “exercise” or “brisk movement”. The preservation of such uses can still be seen in words such as swordplay.

By Middle English, the word had come to be used for all types of “brisk movement”, from the activity of children, to sport, to sex.

I suppose it’s telling of the evolution of human culture that the original word for “exercise” (play) developed a connotation of care-free fun until it encapsulated all types of enjoyment – even those that do not include exercise (card games, video games, word games). On the other hand, exercise today often carries with it tones of discipline, obligation, and health. Apparently, the way humans view physical movement has drastically changed from a gift to a burden.

What do you think? Feel free to comment below with your thoughts or with words you’d like to see explained in coming weeks. Until next Wednesday, take care my fellow Nerds!