TSUMUGU · B1 (est.) · 字
毒
毒 = 屮 + 毐
ㄉㄨˊ · dú
noun — poison, toxin; adj — poisonous, vicious, cruel
字源 FORM — what the parts do
屮空a worn growth-mark on top — a plant once stood here
毐空a thickened, harmful base — its lower shape worn toward 母
A rank plant that grows thick and harms — the old word for poison was a herb springing up everywhere, too strong to touch. The pieces have worn down: a growth-mark on top, and a base softened toward the shape of 母. Both parts are smoothed past clean reading, so they stand bare. From the harmful herb: 毒藥、病毒、毒品, and the cruelty 狠毒.
意 · Meanings
(本義)毒草、毒藥— a harmful herb; poison常用
→病毒、中毒— toxin; to be poisoned常用
⇒狠毒、毒辣— vicious, cruel
(本義) original meaning · → ⇒ each arrow = one more step of extension