Not exactly an analogous situation. Those are two totally separate words with unrelated etymologies that happen to be homophones in today's English. Capitol and capital are homophones with similar definitions because they have the exact same root, so it bears asking why they both exist. The word made its way into English as capital. Capitol is the name of a particular place because the Founders decided to get fancy and try to evoke the Capitoline Hill.
Isaelia t1_j16v8l7 wrote
Reply to comment by firewarner in Ask Dan Snyder why DC is the first host capitol city since 1974 (and the 2nd time ever) not to host a World Cup match!! by efthfj
Not exactly an analogous situation. Those are two totally separate words with unrelated etymologies that happen to be homophones in today's English. Capitol and capital are homophones with similar definitions because they have the exact same root, so it bears asking why they both exist. The word made its way into English as capital. Capitol is the name of a particular place because the Founders decided to get fancy and try to evoke the Capitoline Hill.