|
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 11,613
Carpal Tunnel
|
OP
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 11,613 |
No, no--not that kind! [borrowing from Helen e]
Today's Word reminded me of something I was wondering about the other day while driving: why do we have so many words that end in -mat or -matic? Chromatic; traumatic; laundromat (is an automatic laundromat a laundromatic?); idiomatic; symptomatic; instamatic; dramatic; problematic, etc.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 1,027
old hand
|
old hand
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 1,027 |
At the root of this profusion, there is the common greek suffix -ma, which takes the plural -mata. (e.g. drama, from drao - I act; trauma: wound; thema: proposition) The suffix often refers to an abstractum derived from the root. Many of the newer examples have also been fashioned more or less crudely according to the model "automaton" - which meant simply something that moved by itself (auto..)
|
|
|
|
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 11,613
Carpal Tunnel
|
OP
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 11,613 |
|
|
|
|
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 2,788
Carpal Tunnel
|
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 2,788 |
Psst. Jackie. He's not Greek. He's Swiss.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 11,613
Carpal Tunnel
|
OP
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 11,613 |
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 1,819
Pooh-Bah
|
Pooh-Bah
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 1,819 |
That's why his theory is full of holes. DISCLAIMER: The author of this post expressly denies any actual criticism or even evaluation of wsieber's above etymological explanation, and wishes only to amuse readers on this forum with a bit of wordplay [which may or may not be a pun according to prescriptivists]. This post has been written in a biodegradeable UNIX color code that will disappear when exposed to direct sunlight, rain or intense criticism.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 5,400
Carpal Tunnel
|
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 5,400 |
that's pretty cheesy alex...
|
|
|
|
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 456
addict
|
addict
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 456 |
But he made a Gouda counting of himself with that explanation.
ÅΓª╥┐↕§
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 3,467
Carpal Tunnel
|
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 3,467 |
I'm glad to see you'd rather Swiss than fight.
TEd
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 2,636
Carpal Tunnel
|
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 2,636 |
I thought waffles are Belgian.
|
|
|
Forums16
Topics13,913
Posts229,423
Members9,182
|
Most Online3,341 Dec 9th, 2011
|
|
0 members (),
793
guests, and
3
robots. |
Key:
Admin,
Global Mod,
Mod
|
|
|
|