Stir
Posted: Wed Feb 25, 2015 1:05 pm
Here's a surprise! Yesterday I posted hunker, since we are all hunkered down with icy roads. Today the slang "stir crazy" popped into my mind, since hunkering down without going outside for a long time can drive one stir crazy. So I went to the collection on the AlphaDictionary page and found all sorts of stuff:
Quick definitions from WordNet (stir)
▸ noun: emotional agitation and excitement
▸ noun: a disorderly outburst or tumult
▸ noun: a rapid bustling commotion
▸ verb: mix or add by stirring ("Stir nuts into the dough")
▸ verb: move very slightly
▸ verb: move an implement through with a circular motion ("Stir the soup")
▸ verb: affect emotionally ("A stirring movie")
▸ verb: to begin moving, "As the thunder started the sleeping children began to stir"
▸ verb: stir feelings in ("Stir emotions")
▸ verb: stir the feelings, emotions, or peace of
▸ verb: evoke or call forth, with or as if by magic ("Stir a disturbance")
▸ Word origin
I then checked out a couple more and discovered the common sense behind most of the meanings is a winding, twisting motion. But then I was brought up short by the noun meaning prison. The dictionary authors believe it comes from a different root meaning to capture or take prisoner. Check out a few dictionaries on this one. It's one of those simple words that has a lot packed in it - like a clown car.
Quick definitions from WordNet (stir)
▸ noun: emotional agitation and excitement
▸ noun: a disorderly outburst or tumult
▸ noun: a rapid bustling commotion
▸ verb: mix or add by stirring ("Stir nuts into the dough")
▸ verb: move very slightly
▸ verb: move an implement through with a circular motion ("Stir the soup")
▸ verb: affect emotionally ("A stirring movie")
▸ verb: to begin moving, "As the thunder started the sleeping children began to stir"
▸ verb: stir feelings in ("Stir emotions")
▸ verb: stir the feelings, emotions, or peace of
▸ verb: evoke or call forth, with or as if by magic ("Stir a disturbance")
▸ Word origin
I then checked out a couple more and discovered the common sense behind most of the meanings is a winding, twisting motion. But then I was brought up short by the noun meaning prison. The dictionary authors believe it comes from a different root meaning to capture or take prisoner. Check out a few dictionaries on this one. It's one of those simple words that has a lot packed in it - like a clown car.