Wordsmith.org: the magic of words

Wordsmith Talk

About Us | What's New | Search | Site Map | Contact Us  

Previous Thread
Next Thread
Print Thread
Page 3 of 4 1 2 3 4
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803
What I mean is that the limen isn't the same thing that a threshold is since it includes more than what a threshold includes. It's like saying that 'feet' is a good translation of a word meaning 'hands and feet.' You can pass under the top part of a limen or over the bottom part but you can't pass under a threshold.

Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 1,706
Pooh-Bah
Offline
Pooh-Bah
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 1,706
Faldage has a liminal point.

I vote for that word.

Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 3,290
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 3,290
You can pass under the top part of a limen or over the bottom part but you can't pass under a threshold.

You can specify limen superum 'lintel' or limen inferum 'sill, threshold' (literally, upper and lower threshold), but I see what you mean. Latin limen is not a good translation of the English scientific metaphorical notion of 'threshold', just the door jamb bits.

It's like saying that 'feet' is a good translation of a word meaning 'hands and feet.'

So, you're saying that 'finger' is not a good translation of Latin digitus, because that word can also mean 'toes', and even 'inch'? I often thought that translation is impassable.


Ceci n'est pas un seing.
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803
Originally Posted By: zmjezhd

So, you're saying that 'finger' is not a good translation of Latin digitus, because that word can also mean 'toes', and even 'inch'? I often thought that translation is impassable.


Certainly context is our friend and if it is clear that the context supports a translation of finger for digitus the finger it is. On the other hand, using the fact that limen can mean the upper part of a door frame is no argument for using threshold as a word for a lower limit that must be gotten under to proceed.

Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 3,290
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 3,290
On the other hand, using the fact that limen can mean the upper part of a door frame is no argument for using threshold as a word for a lower limit that must be gotten under to proceed.

I made no such argument, and I'm sorry I expressed myself so poorly that you believed that I did. That being said, I have no problem with using threshold to mean 'lower limit'. I see a threshold as being a threshold no matter whether you enter the house over it or exit the house over it. I see it as a sort of terminus both ante quem and post quem.


Ceci n'est pas un seing.
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803
I guess it was just your pointing out that the Latin word could refer to both the upper and lower parts of the door frame that got me off on my gripe.

Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 20
C
stranger
Offline
stranger
C
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 20
traverse?

Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 11,613
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 11,613
Contravened? Undershot?

Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 1,526
veteran
OP Offline
veteran
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 1,526
Originally Posted By: Jackie
Undershot?

I *like* that!

Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 7,210
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 7,210
undershot gives me the impression of never quite reaching the lower threshold, as opposed to falling below that threshold.


formerly known as etaoin...
Page 3 of 4 1 2 3 4

Moderated by  Jackie 

Link Copied to Clipboard
Forum Statistics
Forums16
Topics13,913
Posts229,580
Members9,187
Most Online3,341
Dec 9th, 2011
Newest Members
Karin, JeffMackwood, artguitar, Jim_W, Rdbuffalo
9,187 Registered Users
Who's Online Now
0 members (), 332 guests, and 0 robots.
Key: Admin, Global Mod, Mod
Top Posters(30 Days)
Top Posters
wwh 13,858
Faldage 13,803
Jackie 11,613
wofahulicodoc 10,713
tsuwm 10,542
LukeJavan8 9,931
AnnaStrophic 6,511
Wordwind 6,296
of troy 5,400
Disclaimer: Wordsmith.org is not responsible for views expressed on this site. Use of this forum is at your own risk and liability - you agree to hold Wordsmith.org and its associates harmless as a condition of using it.

Home | Today's Word | Yesterday's Word | Subscribe | FAQ | Archives | Search | Feedback
Wordsmith Talk | Wordsmith Chat

© 1994-2024 Wordsmith

Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.5