My main query about the word, 'simpatico' is concerning how long it has been in use, and whether its meaning has changed over time, since when I hear people speaking today, its usage has widened. Maybe it is my imagination, but I think that some people use the word as a 'catchall'.
Perhaps the Good Doctor could do a column on this word one day and settle the question for me?
Thanks,
Sardith
simpatico
simpatico
“The difference between the right word and the almost right word is the difference between lightning and a lightning bug.”
~Mark Twain, [pen name for Samuel Clemens], American author and humorist, (1835-1910)~
~Mark Twain, [pen name for Samuel Clemens], American author and humorist, (1835-1910)~
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- Great Grand Panjandrum
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simpatico
According to the Online Etymology Dictionary, it came into English in 1864, from either Spanish or Italian.My main query about the word, 'simpatico' is concerning how long it has been in use, and whether its meaning has changed over time, since when I hear people speaking today, its usage has widened. Maybe it is my imagination, but I think that some people use the word as a 'catchall'.
I don't know how much its meaning has changed. Simpatico in Spanish and Italian (and the French equivalent sympathique) means 'nice', 'pleasant' or 'friendly', which is a somewhat different (or perhaps narrower) meaning than the English 'sympathetic', which usually means 'understanding' or 'commiserative'.
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- Great Grand Panjandrum
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simpatico
Luke,
As for being in the 'common parlance', it seems to me that simpatico was a 'fad' word a few years back~people were using it quite a bit. Now, not as much, but I'd still like to have a column about it one day.
Sardith
As for being in the 'common parlance', it seems to me that simpatico was a 'fad' word a few years back~people were using it quite a bit. Now, not as much, but I'd still like to have a column about it one day.
Sardith
“The difference between the right word and the almost right word is the difference between lightning and a lightning bug.”
~Mark Twain, [pen name for Samuel Clemens], American author and humorist, (1835-1910)~
~Mark Twain, [pen name for Samuel Clemens], American author and humorist, (1835-1910)~
-
- Great Grand Panjandrum
- Posts: 4423
- Joined: Fri Oct 09, 2009 6:16 pm
- Location: Land of the Flat Water
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