The first humble submission (SUPERNUMARY) was simply one that popped up out of nowhere, while the other, CAN, came about in this manner:
My niece, Susan the Angel, works at a prestigious law firm, and one day (during the latter half of the previous century) the managing partner came up with a whimsical contest to see who could come up with the most distinctly different uses of the word “Can”—whether in proper English or in slang. (Business must have been slow that day).
Susan e-mailed the challenge to me, and it didn’t take long to think of ten or so--of which I can only recall nine:
1. A cylindrical metal container; “a can of chicken noodle soup”;
2. To have one’s employment terminated; “Sue Orr Settle got canned after losing the big antitrust case.”
3. Completed and ready for release (often associated with creative arts); “After a couple of retakes incorporating updated CGI, this baby’s in the can!”
4. A toilet; “You could get a lot more done if you’d leave the newspaper on your desk when you use the can”.
5.An indication of the ability to do something; “I can think of a dozen better excuses than that one”.
6. A German experimental rock band formed in Cologne, West Germany in 1968.
7. To preserve food by heating it in glass jars with rubber-ringed lids to a temperature high enough to cook it and kill all botulism bacteria; when removed from the source of heat the vacuum formed seals out all bacteria or other pathogens.
8. A dance, popular during the previous century; “Chiquita can do the can-can ‘til everybody else is worn down to can’t-can’t”.
9. To stop or put an end to; “Can that chatter! We’re supposed to recon’ the enemy’s location, not advertise ours!
Simply because CAN is a word that, while not appearing in the GW Dictionary, has so many different meanings and uses I'd like to see it chosen as a GW; perhaps a reader can come up with that tenth usage of the word which--for some time--has escaped me.
GW Suggestions
- David McWethy
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GW Suggestions
"The time has come," the Walrus said, "to talk of many things...."
- Dr. Goodword
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Re: GW Suggestions
David,
Can you imagine how long the "Meaning" section would be? I don't have that much room.
--RB
Can you imagine how long the "Meaning" section would be? I don't have that much room.
--RB
• The Good Dr. Goodword
- Slava
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Re: GW Suggestions
10. Rear, butt, etc.
I do like 7. Just think, when we can things we put them in jars.
I do like 7. Just think, when we can things we put them in jars.
Life is like playing chess with chessmen who each have thoughts and feelings and motives of their own.
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- David McWethy
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Re: GW Suggestions
I do too! (Particularly since he found enough space for six different usages for "sack"--several of which could be used interchangeably with "can").
"The time has come," the Walrus said, "to talk of many things...."
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Re: GW Suggestions
I had a job where management treated the employees like mushrooms. They kept us in the dark and occasionally threw a little manure on us. Then they put us in a pressure cooker and canned us.
It is dark at night, but the Sun will come up and then we can see.
- Slava
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Re: GW Suggestions
I've heard the first part, but not the second. Nice addition!I had a job where management treated the employees like mushrooms. They kept us in the dark and occasionally threw a little manure on us. Then they put us in a pressure cooker and canned us.
Life is like playing chess with chessmen who each have thoughts and feelings and motives of their own.
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Re: GW Suggestions
And if we're not careful, we might can something if we mistakenly jar it.10. Rear, butt, etc.
I do like 7. Just think, when we can things we put them in jars.
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