The Death Gate Cycle - Language Usage

Language Usage

The name "Haplo" is said to mean "single" in the Patryn language, and "haplo-" is a Greek root word with the same meaning. Haplo and Marit's daughter is named "Rue", which in English is a verb meaning "to regret".

The term "mensch" is used by both Sartan and Patryns to refer to humans, elves, and dwarves, both collectively (all three races) and individually (one particular mensch person). Mensch is the German word for "human," but it is used in the books as a derogatory term.

The names "Sartan" and "Patryn" are defined in the books as "Those Who Bring Back Light," and "Those Who Return to Darkness" respectively.

A footnote suggests that the Lord of the Nexus took the name "Xar" from the Russian word tsar, which itself is a corruption of Caesar.

The Patryn city of Abri takes its name from the French word for "shelter".

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