I am stumped at how to use the word "complexion" when describing a persons complexion. I always hear people use " She is a fair complected woman" but was told the proper way was "She is a fair complexioned woman" When researching the words, it appears as if no one else knows how it should be used in today's grammar.
Usage Note: Complected has a long history in American folk speech, showing up, for example, in 1806 in the journals of the Lewis and Clark Expedition: “[The Indians] are... rather lighter complected... than the Indians of the Missouri” (Meriwether Lewis). Complected has long been treated as a dialectal term in dictionaries, but it actually should be regarded as informal Standard English, since its nationwide distribution disqualifies it as a regionalism. In 1915 its reported use in west Texas extended its semantic domain beyond skin color to general appearance: “a fat-complected man.”
It appears a toss-up in my opinion. What do you all think? And would/should the written form differ from the spoken?
Huny - looking for a fair answer...
A complex question
A complex question
"What lies behind us and what lies ahead of us are tiny matters compaired to what lies inside us." R.W.E.
As described in your post, "complected" seems to be an Americanism. Google shows "complexioned" is used almost 40% more frequently than "complected," so I would guess the speakers of other dialects of English do not use it as much.
The American Heritage Dictionary says "complected" is used only in combination with an adjective such as "light-complected" or "dark-complected." But trolling across the internet shows the "complexioned" is also almost always used with an adjective like "ruddy," "fair," "pale" etc. that reflect color or tone.
I found only two exceptions: "well complexioned" and "good complexioned."
The following noun phrase universally refers to a human being.
In contrast, "complexion" can be used in more contexts. For example, "The whole religious complexion of the modern world is due to the absence from Jerusalem of a lunatic asylum." -- Thomas Paine
Cheers,
The American Heritage Dictionary says "complected" is used only in combination with an adjective such as "light-complected" or "dark-complected." But trolling across the internet shows the "complexioned" is also almost always used with an adjective like "ruddy," "fair," "pale" etc. that reflect color or tone.
I found only two exceptions: "well complexioned" and "good complexioned."
The following noun phrase universally refers to a human being.
In contrast, "complexion" can be used in more contexts. For example, "The whole religious complexion of the modern world is due to the absence from Jerusalem of a lunatic asylum." -- Thomas Paine
Cheers,
The loony bin (or psychiatric hospital, if you prefer) is located just a few minutes SW of Jerusalem, in a wooded mountain location.
In fairness to Mr. Paine, it doubtless was not built in his time.
In fairness to Mr. Paine, it doubtless was not built in his time.
"Time is nature's way of keeping everything from happening all at once. Lately it hasn't been working."
Anonymous
Anonymous
-
- Grand Panjandrum
- Posts: 1476
- Joined: Wed Apr 12, 2006 1:58 pm
- Location: Carolinia Agrestícia: The Forest Primeval
No doubt. In fact 'tis from the 13th century.The loony bin (or psychiatric hospital, if you prefer) is located just a few minutes SW of Jerusalem, in a wooded mountain location.
In fairness to Mr. Paine, it doubtless was not built in his time.
I've always wondered why we say doubtless rather than doubtlessly..?
Stop! Murder us not, tonsured rumpots! Knife no one, fink!
-
- Grand Panjandrum
- Posts: 1476
- Joined: Wed Apr 12, 2006 1:58 pm
- Location: Carolinia Agrestícia: The Forest Primeval
Aye, I Just pounced on the relationship betwixt Jerusalem and the name of Tom Paine's home-field loonybin.Nice link, but pretty far from Jerusalem, even as the crow flies.
Oh sorry Huny, we're way off- I always learned that "complected" was an extension that was 'incorrect'. Take the easy way out and say "her complexion was..."
Stop! Murder us not, tonsured rumpots! Knife no one, fink!
Thank you, everyone, for your input. This has been a word that I have wondered about for some time. I wonder why we even bother having "proper" grammar any more (not like mine is proper to begin with ). It seems that most dictionaries have an evolved form of some original words and basically say it's OK to use either word. I guess English is truly evolving into a slang language and taking on a life of it's own.
I think I will take sluggo's advice and take the easy way out when use of the word pertaining to someones complexion comes my way. I just seem to cringe when I hear the word complected used by others. It just sounds wrong to my ears.
Huny
I think I will take sluggo's advice and take the easy way out when use of the word pertaining to someones complexion comes my way. I just seem to cringe when I hear the word complected used by others. It just sounds wrong to my ears.
Huny
"What lies behind us and what lies ahead of us are tiny matters compaired to what lies inside us." R.W.E.
Whoopsie!!! Your right, Perry . I must have been having a brain blip. Please accept my apologies.Hey, I said it first.
Perry not-that-I-am-keeping-score-or-anything Dror
Friends???
Hunny --ashamed of my self and wondering where my manners are...
p.s. Bailey, I give you credit for your being such an inspiration to me and many others in this forum .
"What lies behind us and what lies ahead of us are tiny matters compaired to what lies inside us." R.W.E.
Actually Bailey, you get credit in my book for inventing the throwaway line as a middle name convention. Many of us copy it shamelessly (as I did to reassure that I wasn't really keeping score).
"Time is nature's way of keeping everything from happening all at once. Lately it hasn't been working."
Anonymous
Anonymous
Actually Bailey, you get credit in my book for inventing the throwaway line as a middle name convention. Many of us copy it shamelessly (as I did to reassure that I wasn't really keeping score).
That's exactly what I'm referring to! Bailey is real good at being quick on his feet. My mind could never keep up!!
Huny - whose mind strolls along at a leisurely pace.
"What lies behind us and what lies ahead of us are tiny matters compaired to what lies inside us." R.W.E.
Ah heck Huny, my mind goes on impromtu vacations of unknown length at odd times. Strolling is good; like the tortoise and the hare.
mark hare-ing-off-on-tangents Bailey
mark hare-ing-off-on-tangents Bailey
that's because it is someone else's world, we don't even get to be the masters of our own fate. I'm the sidekick to the cosmos!It always seems like it's someone else's world and we're just living in it.
Today is the first day of the rest of your life, Make the most of it...
kb
Who is online
Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 5 guests