Polysemantic words: Jar - 03/07/11 07:27 PM
Jar, I just realized, reading "A Comedy of Errors," originally had two general meanings in both its noun and verb forms. One pertains to the material container, the second to disturbance. Now it tends to mean one thing as a noun, another as a verb.
Its meaning as a noun, with which we are all familiar, is a type of vessel; new to me, is Shakespeare's use to mean disturbance, conflict, etc.: "For, since the mortal and intestine jars 'Twixt thy seditious countrymen and us, It hath in solemn synods been decreed Both by the Syracusians and ourselves,To admit no traffic to our adverse towns." (Act I, sc. 1,spoken by Duke Solinus).
Conversely, the V. form of Shakespeare's noun 'jar' is the one I'm accustomed to, while the verb form of the vessel noun, meaning to place in a jar (for preserving), is also hardly employed anymore; I always say I'm canning, even though I only use Mason jars for the purpose, never metal cans!!!
Its meaning as a noun, with which we are all familiar, is a type of vessel; new to me, is Shakespeare's use to mean disturbance, conflict, etc.: "For, since the mortal and intestine jars 'Twixt thy seditious countrymen and us, It hath in solemn synods been decreed Both by the Syracusians and ourselves,To admit no traffic to our adverse towns." (Act I, sc. 1,spoken by Duke Solinus).
Conversely, the V. form of Shakespeare's noun 'jar' is the one I'm accustomed to, while the verb form of the vessel noun, meaning to place in a jar (for preserving), is also hardly employed anymore; I always say I'm canning, even though I only use Mason jars for the purpose, never metal cans!!!