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[rlbell]

Originally posted by mouse31e+Feb 8 2006, 01:01 AM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (mouse31e @ Feb 8 2006, 01:01 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'> <!--QuoteBegin-rlbell@Feb 8 2006, 12:44 AM
It amused me to learn that Richard is an old english word for tyrant, or harsh ruler.

More likely, it means brave/hard leader with reference to strength rather than brutality and it's Germanic, not English.

My name is Andrew. I won't add a picture because I don't have any! [/b][/quote]
No, its old english. It may have a common root with a similar german word, but it is english.

English is like that. A friend of mine, James Nichols (not famous, but you might have heard of him), once commented:

People who go on about the purity of the english language amuse me. English has the purity of a cribhouse lady. It does not just borrow words, it lures weaker languages into back alleys, and then rolls them for any spare words in their pockets.