Search found 917 matches
- Wed Nov 29, 2023 11:22 pm
- Forum: Res Diversae
- Topic: Alternative Christmas hymns
- Replies: 36
- Views: 105854
Alternative Christmas hymns
Over the next month I will be posting my alternative versions of some well-known Christmas hymns and carols, paraphrasing the originals and making some additions. Some will be serious, others more light-hearted. Any bathos is deliberate! You are welcome to make your own contributions to this thread....
- Sun Oct 22, 2023 9:00 am
- Forum: Good Word Suggestions
- Topic: Clique
- Replies: 1
- Views: 5969
Clique
clique
A small, exclusive, often privileged, group of people.
From French (hence its pronunciation cleek).
A small, exclusive, often privileged, group of people.
From French (hence its pronunciation cleek).
- Sat Oct 21, 2023 9:29 am
- Forum: Idioms
- Topic: work in progress/process
- Replies: 3
- Views: 14543
Re: work in progress/process
That is "in the process", not "in process".a similar indexed collection of the linked-verse canon, "Renga taikan," now in the process of publication.
"In the process (of)" is a common phrase, but "in process" sounds odd to me.
- Thu Oct 12, 2023 7:45 am
- Forum: Good Word Suggestions
- Topic: Phenomenon
- Replies: 1
- Views: 5131
Phenomenon
phenomenon
An event or fact that can be perceived by the senses; or a remarkable person or thing.
Plural: phenomena.
An event or fact that can be perceived by the senses; or a remarkable person or thing.
Plural: phenomena.
- Thu Oct 12, 2023 7:23 am
- Forum: Good Word Discussion
- Topic: Toponym
- Replies: 3
- Views: 3525
Re: Toponym
An eponym can be a personal or place name (see Dr Goodword's link in the 'Eponym' article). So if a place name refers not just to that place but to a general category (e.g. chartreuse, landau), it is both a toponym and an eponym.
- Sun Sep 24, 2023 8:22 pm
- Forum: Idioms
- Topic: For the ages
- Replies: 2
- Views: 6237
For the ages
for the ages This cliché, meaning 'remarkable' or 'memorable', has become very prevalent in British journalism in the past year or so, especially in sports reporting. E.g. "a game for the ages", "a performance for the ages". It is often an exaggeration; one doubts whether the ma...
- Fri Sep 15, 2023 8:00 pm
- Forum: Good Word Discussion
- Topic: Metathesis
- Replies: 8
- Views: 5122
Re: Metathesis
Perhaps the notion of 'between', which is given as one of the meanings of Greek meta.Right, so what is the connection between meta, middle, and meta, change?
- Fri Sep 15, 2023 7:41 pm
- Forum: Grammar
- Topic: A Quandary
- Replies: 4
- Views: 10483
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: 8512
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: 4949
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: 2344
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: 1868
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: 4952
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: 2059
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: 2059
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.