by Alan Townend30. Word story: Health..........................................................
Health — This word seems to have its origins in the word «whole»
or «wholeness» since it is an abstract word that refers to the physical
state of a body, which is usually human. In other words we usually
associate it with the physical state of a human or living being. People
are said to be «in good health» or «enjoying good health». On the
other side they could also be «suffering from poor health» or be «in
poor health». It isn't until we get to the adjective «healthy» that we
are talking about being «in good health». Athletes and sportsmen
and women are usually «healthy».
We can also use the adjective to describe not only a physical
attribute but also a moral one. You can have a «healthy attitude
towards religion or sex», which means that you are objective in the
views that you hold on those topics.
At the same time we can use the adjective «healthy» for states or
conditions that are not directly to do with living things. We speak of
the economy of a country being «healthy», which means that the
country does not have huge debts.
When we raise a glass of drink to someone, we address the other
person with the words: «Your health». We are in fact wishing that
they are in «good health». And of course your personal health is a
very important matter. A very common comment passed between
people when they are talking about their money problems or their
job prospects is «As long as you've got your health». This is a way of
cheering themselves up by realising that whatever their problems, at
least they don't have any problems with their «health».