Comments on: Copacetic http://www.word-detective.com/2007/04/09/copacetic/ Semper Ubi Sub Ubi Sun, 12 Feb 2012 00:19:18 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.2 By: Serge Malovatov http://www.word-detective.com/2007/04/09/copacetic/comment-page-1/#comment-34562 Serge Malovatov Sat, 11 Feb 2012 17:01:15 +0000 http://word-detective.com/wordpress/?p=62#comment-34562 Perhaps, it is a corruption of the phrase "the cop is on the settee," meaning that local law enforcement was none too vigilant and things were thus OK. Originating in the time of prohibition, supposedly. Perhaps, it is a corruption of the phrase “the cop is on the settee,” meaning that local law enforcement was none too vigilant and things were thus OK. Originating in the time of prohibition, supposedly.

]]> By: Neil Alexander http://www.word-detective.com/2007/04/09/copacetic/comment-page-1/#comment-34467 Neil Alexander Wed, 08 Feb 2012 17:54:21 +0000 http://word-detective.com/wordpress/?p=62#comment-34467 All the suggested etymology for copacetic or copesettic - both are acceptable spellings according to the Chambers Dictionary - are interesting but it doesn't really matter how the word came into popular usage in the USA, just that it is now part of the language! English, unlike French, is a living, growing language, hence the need to revise dictionaries like Chambers every year or so, which by the way, is the most widely used spelling reference guide for EVERY UK national newspaper and for most crossword setters and Scrabble players. The term copacetic has yet to cross the Atlantic to the UK, apart from in US produced TV shows, mainly on the Discovery Channel oddly enough. I looked it up in Chambers after first hearing it used to describe a car being checked for originality by Wayne Carini's elderly, deaf and truly excellent mechanic (name unknown), on the Discovery Turbo show, Chasing Classic Cars. I originally assumed copacetic was an anglicized Italian word, most likely from the south of the country or Sicily. Don't really know why I made this assumption, except that Wayne is obviously of Italian descent and the word has the kind of semi-guttural sound associated with that area of Italy. In conclusion, I think it's a nice word, but even the Chambers Dictionary, which is known for its exhaustive research into the etymology of entries, has its origin listed as "obscure"! I hope the word eventually crosses the pond, and soon begins to be used by people here in the UK. I also hope this entry is copacetic, if a little long and wordy! Neil fae Bonnie Scotland! All the suggested etymology for copacetic or copesettic – both are acceptable spellings according to the Chambers Dictionary – are interesting but it doesn’t really matter how the word came into popular usage in the USA, just that it is now part of the language! English, unlike French, is a living, growing language, hence the need to revise dictionaries like Chambers every year or so, which by the way, is the most widely used spelling reference guide for EVERY UK national newspaper and for most crossword setters and Scrabble players.
The term copacetic has yet to cross the Atlantic to the UK, apart from in US produced TV shows, mainly on the Discovery Channel oddly enough. I looked it up in Chambers after first hearing it used to describe a car being checked for originality by Wayne Carini’s elderly, deaf and truly excellent mechanic (name unknown), on the Discovery Turbo show, Chasing Classic Cars. I originally assumed copacetic was an anglicized Italian word, most likely from the south of the country or Sicily. Don’t really know why I made this assumption, except that Wayne is obviously of Italian descent and the word has the kind of semi-guttural sound associated with that area of Italy. In conclusion, I think it’s a nice word, but even the Chambers Dictionary, which is known for its exhaustive research into the etymology of entries, has its origin listed as “obscure”! I hope the word eventually crosses the pond, and soon begins to be used by people here in the UK. I also hope this entry is copacetic, if a little long and wordy!
Neil fae Bonnie Scotland!

]]> By: Juanito http://www.word-detective.com/2007/04/09/copacetic/comment-page-1/#comment-27801 Juanito Wed, 07 Dec 2011 01:12:50 +0000 http://word-detective.com/wordpress/?p=62#comment-27801 A high school English teacher of mine back in the seventies said that this word, along with spiffy, was made up by a newspaper comic strip cartoonist. I don't remember which one she said (pogo?) A high school English teacher of mine back in the seventies said that this word, along with spiffy, was made up by a newspaper comic strip cartoonist. I don’t remember which one she said (pogo?)

]]> By: EGK http://www.word-detective.com/2007/04/09/copacetic/comment-page-1/#comment-21336 EGK Wed, 10 Aug 2011 20:43:58 +0000 http://word-detective.com/wordpress/?p=62#comment-21336 Kol B'Seder = all is in order in Hebrew seems more likely than Kol Ba Tsedek. Kol B’Seder = all is in order in Hebrew seems more likely than Kol Ba Tsedek.

]]> By: Lloyd Probber http://www.word-detective.com/2007/04/09/copacetic/comment-page-1/#comment-19990 Lloyd Probber Fri, 17 Jun 2011 04:47:36 +0000 http://word-detective.com/wordpress/?p=62#comment-19990 Someone informed that copasetic is derivation of the Hebrew, "kol ba tsedek." Has anyone heard this? Please let me know. Thanx. Someone informed that copasetic is derivation of the Hebrew,
“kol ba tsedek.” Has anyone heard this? Please let me know.
Thanx.

]]> By: CPIM http://www.word-detective.com/2007/04/09/copacetic/comment-page-1/#comment-11011 CPIM Thu, 06 Jan 2011 13:43:26 +0000 http://word-detective.com/wordpress/?p=62#comment-11011 I had always wondered about the origins of copacetic. Long ago back in college english class days I had done paper on origins of common phrases and copacteic was one of them. My favorite origin came from an unnamed relative who was and active participant of the whole bootlegging speakeasy era. He had told me a far-fethched story that copacetic did not have foreign origins or come from a single word but from a phrase. Apparently (or so his story goes)speakeasys kept the local constabulary off their backs by offering them alcohol in the lobbies. If the "cop is settin'", everything was jake. As much as I agree to the French origin - this fanciful tale is far more fun to believe. Thanks........Joe I had always wondered about the origins of copacetic. Long ago back in college english class days I had done paper on origins of common phrases and copacteic was one of them. My favorite origin came from an unnamed relative who was and active participant of the whole bootlegging speakeasy era. He had told me a far-fethched story that copacetic did not have foreign origins or come from a single word but from a phrase. Apparently (or so his story goes)speakeasys kept the local constabulary off their backs by offering them alcohol in the lobbies. If the “cop is settin’”, everything was jake.

As much as I agree to the French origin – this fanciful tale is far more fun to believe.

Thanks……..Joe

]]> By: Anon4life http://www.word-detective.com/2007/04/09/copacetic/comment-page-1/#comment-6011 Anon4life Mon, 23 Aug 2010 09:23:57 +0000 http://word-detective.com/wordpress/?p=62#comment-6011 Terry is correct. The gap in years doesn't matter in the begging of the information age, where people are well aware of Latin derivatives. The coiner of the term probably knew what "co" and "pace" means. He then added the etic part to make Americanize the word Terry is correct.

The gap in years doesn’t matter in the begging of the information age, where people are well aware of Latin derivatives.
The coiner of the term probably knew what “co” and “pace” means. He then added the etic part to make Americanize the word

]]> By: Terry Christopher http://www.word-detective.com/2007/04/09/copacetic/comment-page-1/#comment-4482 Terry Christopher Tue, 20 Apr 2010 16:12:41 +0000 http://word-detective.com/wordpress/?p=62#comment-4482 Latin derivative? Co = with and pace = peace. Peacefully or harmoniously. Copacetic. Latin derivative? Co = with and pace = peace. Peacefully or harmoniously. Copacetic.

]]> By: Westacular http://www.word-detective.com/2007/04/09/copacetic/comment-page-1/#comment-82 Westacular Wed, 27 Jun 2007 05:38:45 +0000 http://word-detective.com/wordpress/?p=62#comment-82 <i>"The fact that “copacetic” first appeared in African-American usage, especially among jazz musicians, makes"</i> the preceding theory, that it stems from the (presumably Louisiana-)Creole-French word, all the more plausible, since both were largely centred around New Orleans / Louisiana in that period. Early Jazz was strongly influenced by traditional Creole music, and many of those early African-American Jazz musicians were actually of Creole descent. "coupersètique" has a few other advantages over the other suggested etymologies: it's the only source word that carries a meaning of "acceptable [to people]", which seems to be part of the context in which copacetic is almost always used. The varying ways of anglicizing "coupersètique" align quite well with the recorded variations in pronounciation and spelling of copasetic, i.e., copisettic, copasetty, kopasettee. “The fact that “copacetic” first appeared in African-American usage, especially among jazz musicians, makes”

the preceding theory, that it stems from the (presumably Louisiana-)Creole-French word, all the more plausible, since both were largely centred around New Orleans / Louisiana in that period. Early Jazz was strongly influenced by traditional Creole music, and many of those early African-American Jazz musicians were actually of Creole descent.

“coupersètique” has a few other advantages over the other suggested etymologies: it’s the only source word that carries a meaning of “acceptable [to people]“, which seems to be part of the context in which copacetic is almost always used.

The varying ways of anglicizing “coupersètique” align quite well with the recorded variations in pronounciation and spelling of copasetic, i.e., copisettic, copasetty, kopasettee.

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