motility

Use this forum to suggest Good Words for Professor Beard.
William Hupy
Senior Lexiterian
Posts: 611
Joined: Fri Apr 15, 2011 2:14 pm

motility

Postby William Hupy » Fri Oct 10, 2014 2:42 pm

Mobility, motility? One of them has to go. How did it happen that two words with the same meaning and only one letter off both make it into English? I am certain there are other examples knowing the voracious appetite of our language.
William A. Hupy

User avatar
Slava
Great Grand Panjandrum
Posts: 8039
Joined: Thu Sep 28, 2006 9:31 am
Location: Finger Lakes, NY

Re: motility

Postby Slava » Fri Oct 10, 2014 8:36 pm

They don't mean the same thing. Both refer to movement, but one, mobility, is the possibility of being moved, whereas the other, motility, is the capability of self-movement.

Lots of people may have mobile phones and love them, but I'm sure they would not appreciate motile ones. They'd never know where they were. :shock:
Life is like playing chess with chessmen who each have thoughts and feelings and motives of their own.

Perry Lassiter
Great Grand Panjandrum
Posts: 3333
Joined: Wed Jan 03, 2007 12:41 pm
Location: RUSTON, LA
Contact:

Re: motility

Postby Perry Lassiter » Sun Oct 12, 2014 7:42 am

Mostly I have heard motility used in reference to body processes or parts.
pl


Return to “Good Word Suggestions”

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 37 guests