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Nope, it is an honorific. Phelix Send a noteboard - 31/12/2009 09:31:37 PM

M'Hael means "Leader," tsorov'm'hael means storm leader, if I recall correctly. Taim has made a word into a Title; a noun into a proper noun. Just like "The Dragon" is a Title and "the dragon" refers to the beast on Rand's banner and sword.

The meaning does not change. The implications of the word only change because Taim has made it a title.

So have the Aes Sedai. It is Sedai, not sedai.


Aes Sedai is a Title, and it means "Servant of All." "Sedai" is an honorific... but I am splitting hairs.

Either way, taking a word and making it a proper noun does not change the meaning, other than making it more specific. "God" refers to a specific deity, but "god" is more general.


I could accept that as a Title it might carry more significance, but I doubt it would "imply a lot more." The Old Tongue is a very specific language, having multiple words that mean slightly different things. If they meant to say "Public Servant" I am sure they would have used a word that meant explicitly "Public Servant."

The OT is not specific. Rand says the same word can have very different meanings. So does Moiraine, when she translates "Jenn Aiel".


Yes, the same word can have different meanings depending on its context, but with the context it becomes quite specific. "Ashan'darei" means sword spear, and we know that adding an "n" at the end of words is a general pluralizing tool in the OT, Asha'man, therefor should mean "Sword something " provided we knew what the word "man" meant in the OT. We are told, however, that Asha'man means guardian. The adding of a clause or a modifier changes the meaning of an established word. The lack of a modifier should not do so.

Context appears to play a very major role in the OT. When you say your sedai will clean up the room, the word sedai has a totally different meaning than when you say Lews Sedai is starting a new offensive. At least, that would be my guess.


That shift in meaning comes from the fact that it becomes a title. The literal meaning does not change. Mierin Sedai means Servant Mierin, but we all know that Mierin is a Servant of All, a person who has dedicated her life to serving the higher good of all. That subtext and meaning comes from the appropriation of the word by the Aes Sedai.

Your original reply suggested that "sedai" meant a person who served the Creator, the Light, or the will of the pattern. There simply is no reason to believe that the word holds that meaning. Sure, there is a subtext that implies status, but that's it.
I was Phelix on wotmania, I will always be Phelix in the "real" world, and now I am Phelix on RAFO.

You will make all kinds of mistakes; but as long as you are generous and true and also fierce you cannot hurt the world or even seriously distress her.- Churchill

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It just occured to me Etzel - 31/12/2009 10:12:12 AM 1576 Views
I tink they did ursidae - 31/12/2009 10:52:32 AM 872 Views
Yeah, you are right, checked it. For example, Mierin Sedai is mentioned! *NM* Etzel - 31/12/2009 11:02:11 AM 689 Views
Re: It just occured to me Mysteria Indictus - 31/12/2009 11:07:29 AM 834 Views
Yeah, if you compare it to the Catholic Church... Etzel - 31/12/2009 11:34:49 AM 807 Views
Re: Yeah, if you compare it to the Catholic Church... Gerbeaud - 31/12/2009 02:20:32 PM 697 Views
In a democracy though... Silence_DoGood - 31/12/2009 02:38:21 PM 699 Views
Re: Yeah, if you compare it to the Catholic Church... Kieran - 31/12/2009 04:30:58 PM 728 Views
Depends on what the actual translation is... fionwe1987 - 31/12/2009 04:49:54 PM 706 Views
The translation... Phelix - 31/12/2009 06:17:07 PM 723 Views
Look at M'Hael fionwe1987 - 31/12/2009 08:12:35 PM 730 Views
No... Phelix - 31/12/2009 08:19:18 PM 687 Views
And Sedai is not a title? fionwe1987 - 31/12/2009 08:47:03 PM 782 Views
Nope, it is an honorific. Phelix - 31/12/2009 09:31:37 PM 845 Views
You're really splitting hairs... fionwe1987 - 01/01/2010 04:06:02 PM 950 Views
That's why I said I was. Phelix - 01/01/2010 06:19:22 PM 855 Views
My 2 cents... which may only be worth 1 darius_sedai - 01/01/2010 06:39:52 PM 849 Views
I'll cash that check, but I doubt my bank will care much. Phelix - 01/01/2010 06:49:25 PM 838 Views
Re: I'll cash that check, but I doubt my bank will care much. darius_sedai - 01/01/2010 07:27:57 PM 810 Views
Re: I'll cash that check, but I doubt my bank will care much. Phelix - 01/01/2010 07:37:17 PM 805 Views
Re: I'll cash that check, but I doubt my bank will care much. darius_sedai - 01/01/2010 08:08:58 PM 834 Views
Re: I'll cash that check, but I doubt my bank will care much. Phelix - 01/01/2010 09:05:45 PM 811 Views
I think we're pretty much in agreement darius_sedai - 01/01/2010 09:26:26 PM 830 Views
I'd agree with that. Phelix - 01/01/2010 10:20:52 PM 783 Views
I think it's a pride of humility thing.... Phelix - 31/12/2009 06:24:17 PM 759 Views
I think it's meant to be more like "public servant" than "household help" or "farmhand" BlackAdder - 31/12/2009 07:11:28 PM 616 Views
They don't care. The meaning of the honorific is irrelevant - all significance comes from context Cannoli - 01/01/2010 06:08:40 AM 741 Views
I Agree Yondaime - 01/01/2010 08:36:40 AM 680 Views
Re: I Agree Watcher - 01/01/2010 03:04:18 PM 669 Views
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