Search found 910 matches
- Fri Sep 15, 2023 7:41 pm
- Forum: Grammar
- Topic: A Quandary
- Replies: 4
- Views: 6800
Re: A Quandary
This is a difficult one, but I think 'whomever' would be grammatically wrong in this case (no pun intended). "Whoever would listen" is a clause, with "whoever" as its subject, so it should be in the subjective form. The preposition "to" introduces that clause as a whole...
- Wed Sep 13, 2023 2:36 am
- Forum: Res Diversae
- Topic: Say When?
- Replies: 3
- Views: 4928
Re: Say When?
I asked her to walk the dog if I was back late. I think the problem here is that it seems to be grammatically equivalent to: "If I was back late, I asked her to walk the dog." where "If I was back late" is the antecedent, and "I asked her to walk the dog" is the conseq...
- Sun Sep 03, 2023 10:37 am
- Forum: Good Word Discussion
- Topic: Distasteful
- Replies: 2
- Views: 4582
Re: DISTASTEFUL
I think we use 'find' because we are referring to a direct subjective 'feel'. 'Consider' suggests more of an objective thought process, and 'deem' suggests a stipulation. Similarly, we might say "I find this weather depressing", but we would be unlikely to say "I consider/deem this we...
- Mon Aug 28, 2023 9:26 pm
- Forum: Good Word Suggestions
- Topic: Zodiac
- Replies: 1
- Views: 1676
Zodiac
zodiac
Usually applicable to astrology, but may also be used in astronomy, e.g. zodiacal light.
The adjective zodiacal is stressed on the second syllable, i.e. zo-DI-a-cal.
Usually applicable to astrology, but may also be used in astronomy, e.g. zodiacal light.
The adjective zodiacal is stressed on the second syllable, i.e. zo-DI-a-cal.
- Sat Aug 26, 2023 1:07 pm
- Forum: Good Word Suggestions
- Topic: Squire/esquire
- Replies: 1
- Views: 1625
Squire/esquire
squire/esquire
Two closely related words, interchangeable in some cases. Originally a young attendant to a knight; a shield/armour bearer. Later a country gentleman, a landowner. Finally, 'Esquire' (Esq) became a general courtesy title, equivalent to 'Mr' in the UK; this use is now old-fashioned.
Two closely related words, interchangeable in some cases. Originally a young attendant to a knight; a shield/armour bearer. Later a country gentleman, a landowner. Finally, 'Esquire' (Esq) became a general courtesy title, equivalent to 'Mr' in the UK; this use is now old-fashioned.
- Tue Aug 01, 2023 11:13 pm
- Forum: Good Word Discussion
- Topic: Muliebrity
- Replies: 2
- Views: 4751
Re: MULIEBRITY
I wonder whether the 'legitimacy' sense arose from the ambiguity (in earlier English) of the word 'wife'. Its old meaning was simply 'woman' – hence 'housewife', 'midwife' etc.
- Mon Jul 31, 2023 10:15 am
- Forum: Good Word Suggestions
- Topic: Fainites
- Replies: 2
- Views: 1762
Re: Fainites
No, it is not a concession of defeat. It is a call for a temporary, perhaps momentary, cessation of play for some reason, so one cannot be 'out'.
- Sun Jul 30, 2023 9:45 pm
- Forum: Good Word Suggestions
- Topic: Fainites
- Replies: 2
- Views: 1762
Fainites
fainites
Interjection (2 syllables: fain-ites)
(UK) A call for a truce in a children's playground game, e.g. chasing.
This word was commonly heard when I was at primary (grade) school in the 1960s. My parents' generation used the word 'pax' similarly.
Interjection (2 syllables: fain-ites)
(UK) A call for a truce in a children's playground game, e.g. chasing.
This word was commonly heard when I was at primary (grade) school in the 1960s. My parents' generation used the word 'pax' similarly.
- Sat Jul 29, 2023 11:54 pm
- Forum: Good Word Discussion
- Topic: Blimp
- Replies: 3
- Views: 2021
Re: Blimp
Colonel Blimp was a cartoon character, a stereotype of a pompous and reactionary British army officer. The expression is still often used.3. (UK, offensive) A pompous person, someone given to bloviating.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colonel_Blimp
- Fri Jul 28, 2023 1:43 pm
- Forum: Good Word Discussion
- Topic: Pedestrian
- Replies: 5
- Views: 5832
Re: Pedestrian
I think you mean "impassable".
("Impassible" was featured as a Good Word last year.)
("Impassible" was featured as a Good Word last year.)
- Sat Jul 22, 2023 11:19 pm
- Forum: Res Diversae
- Topic: A Nifty Zeugma
- Replies: 3
- Views: 9441
Types of rhyme
According to Wikipedia, three-syllable rhymes such as amorous and glamorous are called dactylic . Then there are four-syllable rhymes such as pleasurable and measurable . In British English, 'veterinary' is stressed only on the first syllable (not the first and fourth as in American English). So we ...
- Fri Jul 14, 2023 1:25 am
- Forum: Good Word Suggestions
- Topic: encore
- Replies: 2
- Views: 2145
Re: encore
I believe the French do not use "encore" in this sense. Instead they say "bis" (Latin for "twice").
- Tue Jul 11, 2023 3:43 am
- Forum: Pronunciation
- Topic: Merely observing . . .
- Replies: 6
- Views: 12504
Re: Merely observing . . .
Antanaclasis?What a surprise! You’re right. It’s a similar construction, but not at all the same thing. Now, maybe I can learn a new word which applies to my erroneous examples!
- Fri Jul 07, 2023 12:01 am
- Forum: Good Word Suggestions
- Topic: Anorak
- Replies: 1
- Views: 2785
Anorak
anorak
1. A waterproof and windproof jacket, usually with a hood, designed to be worn in cold weather; a parka.
2. (Informal, UK) An unsociable person with an obsessively detailed interest in some hobby.
From Inuit (Greenlandic? Canadian?)
1. A waterproof and windproof jacket, usually with a hood, designed to be worn in cold weather; a parka.
2. (Informal, UK) An unsociable person with an obsessively detailed interest in some hobby.
From Inuit (Greenlandic? Canadian?)
- Fri Jun 30, 2023 8:58 pm
- Forum: Good Word Discussion
- Topic: Adjacent
- Replies: 5
- Views: 2281
Re: Adjacent
Actually there are two different Latin verbs iacere, one (with a short first E) meaning 'to throw', and the other (with a long first E) meaning 'to lie (in a position)'. Wiktionary suggests that the two verbs are related, in that 'lie' has the idea of 'be thrown down'.