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Kscherer's Word of the Day™


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Kscherer's Word of the Day™
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ezkcdude
Veteran Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
 
2011-04-08, 11:50

Pith \Pith\, v. t. (Physiol.)
To destroy the central nervous system of (an animal, as a
frog), as by passing a stout wire or needle up and down the
vertebral canal.
[1913 Webster]

Pith off!
  quote
Xaqtly
Veteran Member
 
Join Date: May 2004
 
2011-04-08, 14:26

Here's one of my favorite words.

de·fen·es·trate
[dee-fen-uh-streyt]
–verb (used with object), de·fen·es·trat·ed, de·fen·es·trat·ing.
to throw (a person or thing) out of a window.

The opportunity to use it comes up surprisingly often.
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kscherer
Which way is up?
 
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Boyzeee
 
2011-04-11, 11:27

Quote:
Originally Posted by Xaqtly View Post
The opportunity to use it comes up surprisingly often.
Amen to that!

_

kinetic: of, relating to, or resulting from motion.

Cruise missiles move, don't they?
  quote
addabox
Veteran Member
 
Join Date: May 2004
Location: oaktown
 
2011-04-11, 12:43

cleave: to adhere closely; stick; cling

and

cleave: to cut off; sever

As best I know the only word in English that is its own antonym.
  quote
kscherer
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Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Boyzeee
 
2011-04-11, 13:54

Quote:
Originally Posted by addabox View Post
cleave: to adhere closely; stick; cling

and

cleave: to cut off; sever

As best I know the only word in English that is its own antonym.
Hoocked awn fawnicks werx phor mea! Ain't English a grand language?

And, yes, it's in the dictionary:

ain't: contraction of • am not; are not; is not

- AppleNova is the best Mac-users forum on the internet. We are smart, educated, capable, and helpful. We are also loaded with smart-alecks! :)
- Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. (Mat 5:9)
  quote
Banana
is the next Chiquita
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
 
2011-04-11, 14:18

Quote:
Originally Posted by addabox View Post
As best I know the only word in English that is its own antonym.
I was once told some linguists has observed a tendency for a word to shift to a meaning that's opposite the original meaning. Maybe that's what we're seeing here? I also note that the chosen meaning of the word 'cleave' would depend on whehter we say 'cleave off of' or 'cleave to'. (to think of it, I don't think anyone would try to say something that didn't attach the word to a preposition. "I am cleaved" sounds um, weird.)

Last edited by Banana : 2011-04-11 at 16:05. Reason: Ooo, looks like someone's having a case of Monday!
  quote
kscherer
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Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Boyzeee
 
2011-04-11, 15:41

So "cleave off" would probably be a bit oxymoron-ish depending on how you use it?
  quote
Banana
is the next Chiquita
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
 
2011-04-11, 16:04

*headdesk*

No, I meant to say "of" instead of "off".

I fail.
  quote
kscherer
Which way is up?
 
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Boyzeee
 
2011-04-11, 16:27

It's all semantics. Semantics has lead to this neat, Ken's-head-shaped dent in my marble desktop.
  quote
addabox
Veteran Member
 
Join Date: May 2004
Location: oaktown
 
2011-04-11, 16:40

I think cleave can be used solo for cut-- you can cleave your bonds, or cleave the fatted calf (root of cleaver, after all). "Cleave to" seems to be the preferred construction for attaching, however. I'm very curious how we got from one to the other, and which came first.

That which doesn't kill you weakens you slightly and makes you less able to cope until you're completely incapacitated
  quote
Bryson
Rocket Surgeon
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: The Canadark
 
2011-04-11, 17:12

Wth apologies to addabox (you just reminded me, that's all! )

Discrete: Separate. Distinct.

Discreet: Unobtrusive. Or: Having good judgement in conduct and speech.
  quote
curiousuburb
Antimatter Man
 
Join Date: May 2004
Location: that interweb thing
 
2011-04-11, 17:30

Cosmonaut: |ˈkäzməˌnôt; -ˌnät| noun : a Follower of Yuri Gagarin

see also Astronaut and Taikonaut

Today's Google Doodle animates on mouseover in honour.
  quote
kscherer
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Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Boyzeee
 
2011-04-11, 18:25

As opposed to:

Argonauts: a group of heroes who accompanied Jason on board the ship Argo in the quest for the Golden Fleece.

…which are effectively a group of smallish octopus

argonaut: a small floating octopus, the female of which has webbed arms like sails and secretes a thin, coiled, papery shell in which the eggs are laid.

- AppleNova is the best Mac-users forum on the internet. We are smart, educated, capable, and helpful. We are also loaded with smart-alecks! :)
- Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. (Mat 5:9)
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Robo
Formerly Roboman, still
awesome
 
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Portland, OR
 
2011-04-11, 20:59

This SMBC is relevant.
  quote
kscherer
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Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Boyzeee
 
2011-04-12, 00:09

Quote:
Originally Posted by Robo View Post
This SMBC is relevant.
Funny. I've always wondered what the inside of my stomach tasted like!
  quote
kscherer
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Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Boyzeee
 
2011-04-12, 18:00

motorcycle: a two-wheeled vehicle that is powered by a motor and has no pedals.

Bring on the nice weather!
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kscherer
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Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Boyzeee
 
2011-04-14, 13:13

letter: 1 a character representing one or more of the sounds used in speech; any of the symbols of an alphabet; 2 a written, typed, or printed communication, esp. one sent in an envelope by mail or messenger

The English language is full of words like this. One word, multiple meanings. Drives me bats! I also love the "to, too, two" crap we have ensconced ourselves with. And speaking of ensconced…

ensconce: establish or settle (someone) in a comfortable, safe, or secret place

I am settled into my secret place. Woot!

- AppleNova is the best Mac-users forum on the internet. We are smart, educated, capable, and helpful. We are also loaded with smart-alecks! :)
- Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. (Mat 5:9)
  quote
ezkcdude
Veteran Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
 
2011-04-14, 16:02

Quote:
Originally Posted by addabox View Post
cleave: to adhere closely; stick; cling

and

cleave: to cut off; sever

As best I know the only word in English that is its own antonym.
When I read your post, I remembered that just the other day I heard a word that was it's own opposite, but couldn't remember it.

Apparently there is a word for that entire class of words: contronym

http://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/Contronym

And "sanction" (which is on the list) was the word that I couldn't remember. I think they were discussing it on NPR during the Libya thing.

(How was that for a meta-post?)
  quote
Banana
is the next Chiquita
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
 
2011-04-14, 16:09

That's cool find, ezkcdude. Seeing the list made me gape in awe. We've been using all those words in both senses and honestly I didn't think twice about it.
  quote
Robo
Formerly Roboman, still
awesome
 
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Portland, OR
 
2011-04-14, 18:19

Quote:
Originally Posted by simple.wikipedia.org
Literally
1: In a literal sense or manner : actually 2: in effect : virtually (from Merriam-Websters Online Dictionary)
NO NO NO

So many people use "literally" wrong that they're (figuratively) damaging the word.

There's a classic Oatmeal comic about "literally." I'd post it, but it'd apparently make kscherer puke.

and i guess i've known it all along / the truth is, you have to be soft to be strong
  quote
kscherer
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Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Boyzeee
 
2011-04-22, 13:49

Quote:
Originally Posted by Robo View Post
NO NO NO

So many people use "literally" wrong that they're (figuratively) damaging the word.

There's a classic Oatmeal comic about "literally." I'd post it, but it'd apparently make kscherer puke.
Post away, you brat!

figurative: departing from a literal use of words; metaphorical
  quote
Robo
Formerly Roboman, still
awesome
 
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Portland, OR
 
2011-04-22, 14:26

You wouldn't like it. It's pretty gay.
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kscherer
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Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Boyzeee
 
2011-04-22, 16:53

metaphor: a figure of speech in which a word or phrase is applied to an object or action to which it is not literally applicable
  quote
kscherer
Which way is up?
 
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Boyzeee
 
2011-04-23, 09:32

Saturday: the day of the week before Sunday and following Friday, and (together with Sunday) forming part of the weekend; also, a day I don't work, so Woot!

I thought about posting Friday but I didn't want to drum up another Rebecca Black thread derailment.

- AppleNova is the best Mac-users forum on the internet. We are smart, educated, capable, and helpful. We are also loaded with smart-alecks! :)
- Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. (Mat 5:9)
  quote
GOLDFRAPP
Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2005
 
2011-04-23, 15:43

lie: be in or assume a horizontal or resting position on a supporting surface; rest flat on a surface

The verb lie (‘assume a horizontal or resting position’) is often confused with the verb lay (‘put something down’), giving rise to incorrect uses such as he is laying on the bed (correct use is he is lying on the bed) or why don't you lie the suitcase on the bed? (correct use is why don't you lay the suitcase on the bed?). The confusion is only heightened by the fact that lay is not only the base form of to lay, but is also the past tense of to lie, so while he is laying on the bed is incorrect, he lay on the bed yesterday is quite correct.
  quote
709
¡Damned!
 
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Purgatory
 
2011-04-23, 15:52

prevarication: - intentionally vague or ambiguous


ambiguity - unclearness by virtue of having more than one meaning


  quote
Robo
Formerly Roboman, still
awesome
 
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Portland, OR
 
2011-04-23, 16:28

709, you ruined my joke. I was going to say

Night Lies n. — bitchin' song by Bang Camaro

but then you ruined everything.

(It's actually not that great of a song. So that was a white lie about "Night Lies." )

and i guess i've known it all along / the truth is, you have to be soft to be strong
  quote
709
¡Damned!
 
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Purgatory
 
2011-04-23, 16:36

Sorry. "white lies" just seemed kind've meh. And not entirely accurate.
  quote
Robo
Formerly Roboman, still
awesome
 
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Portland, OR
 
2011-04-23, 17:06

Quote:
Originally Posted by 709 View Post
Sorry. "white lies" just seemed kind've meh. And not entirely accurate.
Grey lies!

  quote
709
¡Damned!
 
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Purgatory
 
2011-04-23, 17:13



So, so many ways to go with that.
  quote
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