You all can parse all the verbs all you want, but the actual meaning of a “nonprofit” organization is one that is not organized around profit-seeking (or residual-seeking to be economically correct) motives. For example, the Richmond Symphony is a nonprofit. This means that they are motivated by trying to provide the best possible orchestral music to the public rather than making a profit. While I’m sure stumblingneon is right about the roots of the word, the point is that despite these, nonprofit has a completely different, modern meaning unrelated to its origins.
NONPROFIT is the worst possible term. the word “profit” comes from Latin for “progress” & “to advance.” Thus, “nonprofit” means, nonprogress
”sam lessin (via msg)
Now that’s not really true. I am a Classics major, so when I see an opportunity to use my degree, I take it.
Profit comes from “pro” a prefix meaning “forward, before, in front of” and “fit” a declined form of “fio, fieri, factus,” meaning “happen, come about, result (from)” It is a semi-deponent and intransitive verb.
Progress is actually also a directly Latin word with a very different etymology: Pro, again, and “gress” from “gradior, gradi, gressus” meaning “walk, step, go”
The two are not synonyms. The former has no indication of motion. The verb “fio” declines into “factum” in the neuter perfect passive participle, which became a noun in its own right (as is common) meaning “fact, deed, act, achievement.”
A Latinate word cannot come from the Latin for another Latinate word. That’s just idiotic. Nonprofit makes sense. Thank you and goodnight.
(via stumblingneon)
