Frosty of Forochel
Member
frodo's correction of "looking" to "searching" led me to investigate the etymology (always a good idea when the author is a philologist).
"Look" means simply to use one's eyes to see. So for the Riders to look for Frodo would be to stop when they see him. As they have no visible eyes, this may also lead to Frodo's amendation (as was suggested by the discussion of sniffing during the class session).
"Search" however is ultimately from the Latin, meaning to go around. Thus, Prof Olson is likely correct that it implies more of a hunt. To "search" is not merely to find, but to return whence you came, likely bringing your quarry with you ("come back! To Mordor we will take you!")
Also of note is that "search" comes to English by Latin through French, while "look" is Germanic. Knowing Tolkien's preference for words of earlier origin, this amuses me. Surely the sevants of the Enemy bring with them foul words of foreign origin, diluting the purity of good English words.
"Look" means simply to use one's eyes to see. So for the Riders to look for Frodo would be to stop when they see him. As they have no visible eyes, this may also lead to Frodo's amendation (as was suggested by the discussion of sniffing during the class session).
"Search" however is ultimately from the Latin, meaning to go around. Thus, Prof Olson is likely correct that it implies more of a hunt. To "search" is not merely to find, but to return whence you came, likely bringing your quarry with you ("come back! To Mordor we will take you!")
Also of note is that "search" comes to English by Latin through French, while "look" is Germanic. Knowing Tolkien's preference for words of earlier origin, this amuses me. Surely the sevants of the Enemy bring with them foul words of foreign origin, diluting the purity of good English words.