The noun "creature", formed from the verb"Create", initially had a completely innocuous and even exalted significance. Today, this meaning is preserved only in stable speech. If there is no negative in the expression "God's creature", then the phrase "despicable creature" already has an expressive coloring and is perceived as a curse word. Why did this happen, and what is a creature in the modern sense?
Creation created by God
In the Old Slavonic language the word "creature"any living thing, be it a person, an animal or an insect. This treatment lasted quite a long time. Let's take the well-known phrase from the novel "Crime and Punishment": "Am I a shivering creature or have I the right?"
It is obvious that when F.M.Dostoevsky describes Raskolnikov's throwing, he does not endow the hero with animal qualities, but only shows the lowliness of his thoughts. What is a creature in this context? Most likely, it means a helpless, soulless, cowardly person.
Already in the biblical parables there is a tendencythe use of the word "creature" mainly in relation to our lesser brothers. Recall the legend of the Flood: God ordered Noah to assemble into the constructed ark "every creature according to the pair", that is, the opposite sex representatives of the earthly fauna. Although even now, when people talk about the impermanence of the existence of the human race, one can hear the expression "we are all God's creatures," and there is nothing offensive about this.
Subtleties of word formation
What is a "creature" in terms of etymology? It would be more logical to assume that the derivative of the verb "to create" is "creation," just as in the following cases:
- produce - a work;
- create - creation;
- doing is an act;
- accomplish - accomplishment.
But in Russian nouns canformed in different ways. If the suffix "-ni-" is used in the above examples, words such as "bell ringer", "cracker", "goalkeeper" are formed by attaching the suffix "-ar-" to the root.
You can pick up other pairs:"Burns - burns", "heals - healer", "carries mail - the postman", etc. It turns out that the creature is something created by God. For comparison: utensils - a collection of household items, things made by man.
The veiled oath
Gradually, the original meaning was erased, and the "creature"began to be applied only in relation to beings though alive, but not having a soul. In Russian, this word can be called obsolete, now no one calls animals or birds creatures, but in Ukrainian and today "animal" sounds like "creature".
Now it is not difficult to guess what a creature is innegative meaning. Pronouncing this word as an abuse is like calling a person a goat, a sheep, cattle and similar impartial expressions. It seems to be not filth in its purest form, but the trauma of the interlocutor will be easily caused. Therefore, it is better to abstain from such words, be more tolerant and kinder to those who surround us.
