The word kidnap, for me at least, is a very misleading one.
Imagine that you have never heard the word "kidnap" before. When you see the word for the first time, what comes to your mind? I imagine that a kid is taking a nap. One would logically assume that “kid + nap = kidnap”.
In truth though, as we know, the word has a completely different and shocking meaning. It means that a kid has been abducted by someone with rather ugly intentions.
This made me think. Why the hell would you want a word that is seemingly so innocent to describe such a monstrous activity? Then I struck upon something.
If you alter just one letter from the word "kidnap", what you get is a much more accurate and suggestive word.
That word of course, is kidnab. Kid is still a kid. But "nab" means "grab or seize something/ someone suddenly, unexpectedly". Therefore, “kid + nab = kidnab”. Don't you agree that kidnab is rather more accurate than kidnap.
As I type this now, another possibility has occurred to me. The word "nap" also might have a meaning that is quite similar to "nab", in which case, the whole premise and relevance of this post is shot to pieces.
I don't want to check whether this is true or not. It might ruin all the interesting points and questions that i have posed above.
From now on, I'm gonna be using kidnab, not kidnap.
I also have another complaint to make. Resign. Again, logically you would assume that “resign = re + sign”, that is to say that you have renewed or signed something again. A contract extension, extending a lease, etc.
Once more, the schemers behind the English language prove to be shockingly inconsistent. Resign, in fact means quitting from an official post or duties. The word does not give any indication that this might be it’s meaning.
Tch, tch.
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