Which way is up?
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Boyzeee
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We all use words inappropriately, and I mean ALL of us! So I thought I would start this thread and try to post words—with their actual definitions—as an educational resource for any interested parties. Naturally, anyone may post their Word of the Day™ and, of course, belittle each other for using them wrong! Or right, for that matter.
Now, keep in mind that I am no grammar professor, and I have given up my day job as Internet Grammar Officer because it is too much work and exposed too many of my own english flaws. However, I do like to learn at least one new word per year, preferably one with at least three letters. Anyway, here are the thread rules: 1) Word must be real, and composed of actual letters; 2) Word may be from any language, as long as it follows rule #1; 3) Word must be accompanied by it's definition (not yours) from a reasonably accurate dictionary (not Wikipedia); 4) You may badmouth each other's words all you want. Just make sure to use your own words properly; 5) You may tell stories (or lies) about how the word is misused. This part should be fun; 6) Post why you think the word is misused, not necessarily why the establishment thinks so; 7) Please follow the "Word: definition" format to make it easy to spot your word/definition. Anywho…I'm bored, so here goes… Retarded: less advanced in mental, physical, or social development than is usual for one's age. People use this word to associate slight deviations from the norm with a mental and/or physical disability. Believe it or not, the word itself does not bother me, even though I had a child who was, by definition, retarded, both mentally and physically. However, the word was used as an insult for so long that calling someone who is actually retarded "retarded" is much like using that pesky "n"-word to describe a black person. It is true, given the exact definition of the word, but the word has evolved into an insult, rather than a strict descriptor. It is also used to associate stupid ideas and thinking with what they are, and sometimes quite humorously. So, use it sparingly, and never to describe an actual "retarded" person. **Edit: Unless otherwise noted, I will be using the Oxford dictionary built into my Mac. It is easy to use, and I am too lazy to dig through a hundred boxes in search of an actual book. - 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) Last edited by kscherer : 2011-03-21 at 17:04. |
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Veteran Member
Join Date: May 2004
Location: oaktown
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biased: (adjective) having or showing bias or prejudice: They gave us a biased report on immigration trends.
bias: (noun) a particular tendency or inclination, especially one that prevents unprejudiced consideration of a question. His bias was in evidence when he gave the report. Dear Internet: if you want to call someone's objectivity into question, you can say they are biased, have a bias, or have a biased opinion. THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS A "BIAS OPINION", YOU HALFWITS. When you say that you are saying that their is opinion is cut on a diagonal, which is the only form of "bias" that serves as an adjective. Stop it, you sub-literate monkeys. That which doesn't kill you weakens you slightly and makes you less able to cope until you're completely incapacitated |
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Antimatter Man
Join Date: May 2004
Location: that interweb thing
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SINISTER |ˈsinistər|
(adjective)* via New Oxford American Dictionary - via Mac built-in dictionary app All those who believe in telekinesis, raise my hand. |
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Veteran Member
Join Date: May 2004
Location: oaktown
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egrote: to feign an illness to avoid work. Use it wisely.
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Antimatter Man
Join Date: May 2004
Location: that interweb thing
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Hmmmmm... Wordnik comments dispute
Not a genuine word. Given in Bailey's dictionary (1721-61), and egroting "feigned illness" in other 18th-century lists, but no actual uses are known to the OED.but I once had a real aegrotat usage, so... All those who believe in telekinesis, raise my hand. |
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Veteran Member
Join Date: May 2004
Location: oaktown
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Who are you going to believe, Wordnik or Bailey's dictionary (1721-61)?
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Space Pirate
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Atlanta
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were |wər|
second person singular past, plural past, and past subjunctive of be . Dear friends with poor language skills and certain disabilities, I know that you can't tell the difference between the words "where" and "were" (as in "We where going to tell you later."), but please afford me time for a silent, inward cringe before I respond to your Facebook posts. ... |
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Hates the Infotainment
Join Date: May 2004
Location: NSA Archives
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You people apparently do not understand the phrase "word of the day". Word being singular, day meaning one per. Unless of course you want to vote me "Word Chancellor" and I will decide at the end of each day whose submission wins.
For example, today I would choose: Sinister... because a) it's a cool word; and b) Burb is going to need a win to cherish this week, after I kick his butt in fantasy hosket. ...into the light of a dark black night. |
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Space Pirate
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Atlanta
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That was an appropriate admonition.
By the way, could you define the word "Hosket" and provide a reference? ... |
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Hates the Infotainment
Join Date: May 2004
Location: NSA Archives
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Uhthankyousuh.
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Hosket (ha•sket) n. - common derivate of the word hockey, the world's 2nd greatest spectator sport behind wet t-shirt contests, thought to be coined by a drunken pirate in the early 21st century. Ex: "There is no time for March Madness when there is important hosket to be watched." ...into the light of a dark black night. |
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Veteran Member
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Unknown
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You can have a bias, or you can show a bias, but you can't be bias. You can, however, be biased. Do you know where children get all of their energy? - They suck it right out of their parents! Last edited by zippy : 2011-03-22 at 17:31. |
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Which way is up?
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Boyzeee
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Nice! No need to take your clothes off. You might scare the children! - 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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Which way is up?
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Boyzeee
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You guys'll like this one:
rumor: a currently circulating story or report of uncertain or doubtful truth Dang, I hate the way this word is used around the interwebs as if it had the same meaning as this word: fact: a thing that is indisputably the case I get a ridiculous number of questions about the "new" Apple thing that is certainly coming out next week. "Where did you get that information?" I ask. "From the internet! CNN said so!" "Well then it must be true!" - 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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Veteran Member
Join Date: May 2004
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[uh-gree-muhnt] –noun 1. the act of agreeing or of coming to a mutual arrangement. 2. the state of being in accord. 3. an arrangement that is accepted by all parties to a transaction. 4. a contract or other document delineating such an arrangement. 5. unanimity of opinion; harmony in feeling: agreement among the members of the faculty. However: fu·tile [fyoot-l, fyoo-tahyl] –adjective 1. incapable of producing any result; ineffective; useless; not successful: Attempting to educate the internet was futile. |
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Veteran Member
Join Date: May 2004
Location: oaktown
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Which way is up?
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Boyzeee
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How did this word:
opinion: a view or judgment formed about something, not necessarily based on fact or knowledge Become synonymous* with this one: news: newly received or noteworthy information, esp. about recent or important events *synonymous: having the same or nearly the same meaning as another word or phrase in the same language - 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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Hates the Infotainment
Join Date: May 2004
Location: NSA Archives
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Short Answer: Greed (gr-ee-d) n. - intense and selfish desire for something, esp. wealth, power, or food. Long Answer: Anything that improves their news programs' ratings, including half-truths, opinion-as-reporting, and emotional spin, puts more money in their pocket. Also known as:"They don't give a shit about informing us of actual facts that are put into proper context, so much as doing everything they can to make huge ad revenues, and manipulating our political opinions to favor whichever Washington whores are on their campaign payroll." ...into the light of a dark black night. |
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Which way is up?
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Boyzeee
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hypocrisy: the practice of claiming to have moral standards or beliefs to which one's own behavior does not conform.
hypocrite: a person who indulges in hypocrisy. Asking for peace while dropping bombs is hypocrisy. Shame on us. - 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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Hates the Infotainment
Join Date: May 2004
Location: NSA Archives
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Gray (gr - A) adj. - of a color intermediate between black and white.
In common parlance, something that is "a gray area" can be said to contain complexities that make a "black and white" judgement of same to be impossible. To wit: we (along with several other countries who agree it's a good idea) use cruise missiles and bombs to create and enforce a no-fly zone. This zone prevents a dictator who exhibits signs of delusion and mental illness, from launching air attacks and ground-based tank and rocket attacks against his weakly armed civilian population, which in the midst of a democratic revolt. What makes it gray is the mix of positive and negative consequences. Negative is parts of the country get broken down and destroyed, and some civilians will get killed. Positive is far fewer people will die this way than if the dictator is allowed to directly resist the revolt with his military, and ultimately, a country will be able to govern itself. A better definition of hypocrisy is when we decide to intervene on the behalf of one nation's struggling and abused citizens over another, saying it is about human rights and dignity. In reality it is because one group of citizens lives near oil fields while the others live in a land devoid of all industry or natural resources. We help the Libyans but we routinely watch other groups of African citizens get slaughtered (Rwanda, Congo, et al) because their country has no business interest to us. THAT's the hypocrisy. ...into the light of a dark black night. Last edited by Moogs : 2011-03-25 at 09:09. |
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Which way is up?
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Boyzeee
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THAT is true. Which is why:
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• the soundness of an action or decision with regard to the application of such experience, knowledge, and good judgment : some questioned the wisdom of building the dam so close to an active volcano. I cannot help but think that our continued involvement in the Middle East is much like building that dam next to the active volcano. President Washington would be . - 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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Rocket Surgeon
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: The Canadark
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The Queen.
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Hates the Infotainment
Join Date: May 2004
Location: NSA Archives
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Except that I pulled it from the OS X Dictionary. It's the British spelling that is Grey. You being American I presume you thought it was the other way around?
...into the light of a dark black night. |
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Veteran Member
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Melbourne
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adjective of or relating to England or its people or language. noun the West Germanic language of England |
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