Wordsmith Talk |
About Us | What's New | Search | Site Map | Contact Us | |||
Register Log In Wordsmith.org Forums General Topics Weekly Themes Polysemantic words: Jar
Previous Thread
Next Thread
Print Thread
OP 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!!!
I've heard things like: "the tornado jarred loose the
foundations of the building". Past tense, same verb.
----please, draw me a sheep----
Moderated by Jackie
Link Copied to Clipboard
Forum Statistics Forums16Topics13,913Posts229,417Members9,182 Most Online3,341
Dec 9th, 2011
Newest Members Ineffable, ddrinnan, TRIALNERRA, befuddledmind, KILL_YOUR_SUV
9,182 Registered Users
Who's Online Now 0 members (), 1,114 guests, and 3 robots. Key: Admin, Global Mod, Mod
Top Posters(30 Days) A C Bowden 23
Top Posters wwh 13,858Faldage 13,803Jackie 11,613wofahulicodoc 10,588tsuwm 10,542LukeJavan8 9,922Buffalo Shrdlu 7,210AnnaStrophic 6,511Wordwind 6,296of troy 5,400
Forum Rules · Mark All Read Contact Us · Forum Help · Wordsmith.org