INFLAMMABLE

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Dr. Goodword
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INFLAMMABLE

Postby Dr. Goodword » Fri Dec 05, 2008 11:56 pm

• inflammable •

Pronunciation: in-flæm-ê-bêl • Hear it!

Part of Speech: Adjective

Meaning: 1. Capable of igniting or burning. 2. Easily angered, incited, or made worse.

Notes: Few words are confused with their own antonyms, but today's Good Word is an example of one that is. Widespread misperception of the prefix "in-" in inflammable as a negative prefix in the 60s convinced the petroleum and chemistry industries to replace this older term (1605) with a younger synonym, flammable (1813), on their product labels and transport vehicles. The noun for this Good Word is inflammability and the adverb, inflammably.

In Play: This word is used most often in reference to petroleum based chemicals: "Well, Smokey, maybe it wasn't such a good idea to remove spots from your shirt with an inflammable liquid, then sit down and light up a cigarette." However, its meaning easily extends to metaphorical flaming: "We try not to discuss controversial issues with Adam Bahm because he is such an inflammable character."

Word History: Today's word comes from Medieval Latin inflammabilis, an adjective derived from inflammare "to set on fire". The prefix is not the negative in- "un-" of incomplete and incorrect but the preposition in. This verb is made up of in "in" + flammare "flame, blaze", the root of which is flamma "a blaze, flame". Flamma is obviously the origin of English flame, borrowed from French after that language smoothed it off a bit. The initial fl- in this word actually comes from an earlier root, bh(e)l-, which emerged in such Germanic words in English as blaze, bleach, and blank. Its original meaning was apparently "white", the meaning it has in Russian belyi. (Today's Good Word is a hot suggestion from the cool Eric Berntson, who raised it in alphaDictionary's easily inflammable Alpha Agora)
• The Good Dr. Goodword

skinem
Grand Panjandrum
Posts: 1197
Joined: Thu Apr 27, 2006 4:33 pm
Location: Middle Tennessee

Postby skinem » Sat Dec 06, 2008 12:05 pm

Wow, Doc--between some of the hours I've noticed that you've been posting, and your new avatar, I might come to the conclusion that you're feeling a little stressed lately.

Or perhaps the avatar is an illustration of one who is inflammable? :)

Cacasenno
Lexiterian
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Joined: Fri Dec 21, 2007 12:39 pm
Location: Italy

Postby Cacasenno » Sat Dec 06, 2008 1:13 pm

Searching for new avatar for a stressed person?

:lol:

see the "kick off your shoes and cool down" frame


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