|
|
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 2,788
Carpal Tunnel
|
OP
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 2,788 |
I just read a note from someone who suggested that one writer had "calumnized" another. I responded that calumny is a noun, never a verb. The person responded that this is not necessarily so. Really?
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 10,542
Carpal Tunnel
|
|
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 10,542 |
OED2 has calumnize (obs) and calumny as equivalent to calumniate.
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 11,613
Carpal Tunnel
|
|
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 11,613 |
Well, I can tell I never took Latin. Calumnize would be my verb of choice; calumniate sounds awkward and wrong to me, but looking at the etymology I can see that it came straight from the Latin. Like Father Steve (hi, you!  ), I think of calumny as a noun, though, as in, "What he said about me was a calumny". But what would be the verb (if there is one) to express the act? Commit a calumny? Stated a calumny?
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803
Carpal Tunnel
|
|
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803 |
The Latin verb is calumniari, to accuse falsely, misrepresent. Perhaps someone knows similarly formed verbs (1st declension, deponent) in Latin that have made their way into English for guidance in forming the proper English verb.
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 1,624
Pooh-Bah
|
|
Pooh-Bah
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 1,624 |
Seems plain awkward to me. I think the fact that the OED calls it obsolete says all that needs to be said!
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 2,788
Carpal Tunnel
|
|
OP
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 2,788 |
Faldage sez: "The Latin verb is calumniari."
"Calumniari" is actually fried squid, served, in the Italian fashion, with a red sauce, or in the Greek fashion, with a lovely sauce based on unflavoured yoghurt, garlic, olive oil and lemon juice.
To "calumniaricize" someone is therefor to offer them some deep-fried squid with a nice sauce on the side.
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 3,467
Carpal Tunnel
|
|
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 3,467 |
I frequently calumnize when I'm doing spread sheets!
TEd
|
|
|
|
Forums16
Topics13,913
Posts229,328
Members9,182
| |
Most Online3,341
Dec 9th, 2011
|
|
|
0 members (),
783
guests, and
0
robots. |
|
Key:
Admin,
Global Mod,
Mod
|
|
|
|
