20 Facts Every Harry Potter Super-Nerd Should Know
19. Dumbledore Means Bumblebee
The Early Modern English word for male bees was dore, (the etymological root of drone, another word for the male honeybee). To get the same effect of the drowsy, buzzing, summery sound of humming bees that bumblebee gives today, the previous incarnation of the word was, yes, Dumbledore. This was intentional on Rowlings part: Dumbledore has been said to have greatly loved music (particularly chamber music, according to his Chocolate Frog card), and she selected the name because it was easy to imagine everybodys favourite headmaster walking around, genially humming to himself in the summertime.
Canadian student. Spends probably an unhealthy amount of time enthusing over musicals, unpopular TV shows, and Harry Potter. Main life goal: to become fluent in Elvish.
