Comment

Comment by Dallas (on hiatus) on August 12, 2009 at 3:12pm

@Don: We clearly use things not really understanding their origins or meaning, don't we?

Comment by Dallas (on hiatus) on August 12, 2009 at 1:17pm

@ Don: I tend to use the word incredible when I mean to say fantastic. I know that I am not alone in this.

@ Jaume: Interesting.

Comment by Jaume on August 12, 2009 at 1:12pm

[Trivia] Pédale (French for pedal, same pronunciation) is often used pejoratively to mean 'a gay man' (due to the homophony with pédéraste). And 'sesqui-' is the phonetical equivalent of a popular (in a funny way) pronunciation of 'ceux qui' (the 'x' in 'ceux' is normally silent) - which means 'those who'. Thus, to the average Frenchman, sesquipedalian might evoke a cyclist or gay club, since 'sesquipedal-' is phonetically identical to the French for 'those who pedal', or 'those who are gay'.

Comment by Dallas (on hiatus) on August 12, 2009 at 12:55pm

@ Don, re inflammable: That is true, but you can understand the confusion. On the one hand you have words like insoluble, inconsistent, or involuntary, which imply a negation. Then you words like incendiary or involvement, which imply an affirmative connotation.

Now that I am typing this out, is the word incredible misused today, in the same manner that terrific is misused? Terrific originally meant to inspire terror. Did incredible mean un-credible? What do you guys think?

Comment by Dallas (on hiatus) on August 12, 2009 at 12:45pm

I have a question about a sentence they used in the QotD below. They wrote: I want a definite answer on what we shall eat for dinner tonight.

But I thought shall was to be used in hypothetical situations, or situations not likely to happen, such as: If another member of the Bush family is elected President, I shall have to immigrate to Canada. In this situation, this is purely hypothetical. It is not like asking: What will we have for dinner tonight?, as we will certainly be eating dinner.

What are your opinions on this?

Comment by Dallas (on hiatus) on August 12, 2009 at 12:39pm

Question of the day, from Dictionary.com:

Q: What is the difference between definite and definitive?

A: These words are not that different, as both refer to something precisely defined or set forth. Definitive, however, specifically applies to a description or judgment that is a standard or reference point for others, or being the most complete or authoritative. Definitive means 'having the function of deciding or settling' or being 'conclusive'. Here are some examples: She has a definite opinion on most topics. I want a definite answer on what we shall eat for dinner tonight. / The Oxford English Dictionary is the definitive guide to the English language. It was a definitive victory for the political candidate.

Comment by Dallas (on hiatus) on August 12, 2009 at 10:32am

@ Don: Great quote. I'll add that to the homepage.

Comment by Dallas (on hiatus) on August 12, 2009 at 10:24am

@Jared: Don means callling the group LINGUAPHILES & SESQUIPEDALIANS instead of SESQUIPEDALIANISTS. Sesquipedalian means a person who is inclined to use big words containing many syllables.

Comment by Jared Lardo on August 12, 2009 at 10:16am

I have no idea what a sasquachidalian or what the hell ever that word is is. Keep the "linguaphiles".

Comment by animus on August 12, 2009 at 10:14am

Does this mean that I might be somewhat normal in my obsession of or excitement by new, unusual or strange words? Meaning it is alright to be a word nerd,( yipeee! ) er, uh, I mean tantalizing! Count me in.

• ‹ Previous
• 1
• …
• 18
• 19
• 20
• 21
• 22
• Next ›
• Page