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Posted By: of troy obelisk - 02/21/01 10:06 PM
Watching a travel show on PBS--the narrator refered to an Oh bless k-- which i figured out was what i would call an obble isk M-W 10th make that a b(with a schaw) lisk-- and I'd accept that.
It was an american narrator.. so i am wondering-- What would you call "cleopatria's needle*" or "Nelson's pillar"?
(besides calling it a phallic symbol)--
*an ancient egyptian obelisk was "donated" to NY-- and dubbed Cleopatria's Needle. Since the ability to translate hierglyphics, it known the obelish has nothing to do with Cleopatria-- but the name stuck.

Posted By: Jazzoctopus Re: obelisk - 02/21/01 11:54 PM
I'd say that most Americans who don't know what an obelisk is call them "miniature Washington Monuments".

Posted By: jmh Nelson's Pillar - 02/22/01 08:24 AM
At first, I thought that you meant Nelson's column in Trafalgar Square (which I'd call a column), I'd forgotten about Nelson's Pillar in Dublin.

I thought you might like this news story:
Man detained in connection with bombing of Nelson's Pillar
----------------------------------------------------------
Gardaí have detained a man for questioning in relation to the bombing of Nelson's Pillar on O'Connell Street in Dublin in 1966. The man, who is from Walkinstown, is being held under Section 30 of the Offences Against the State act. He is being questioned at Store Street garda station and can be held for up to 24 hours.
And the date of the story?
Thursday, September 21 2000 - Someone took the post headed "Slow down", very seriously.

Posted By: jmh Cleopatra's Needle - 02/22/01 08:27 AM
I'd call both of them obelisks, like you "obble-isks".

http://www.centralparktc.org/cenprk06.htm

Posted By: belligerentyouth obelisks - 02/22/01 10:17 AM
I like this word - it's international and it sounds great!
In the summer I saw a great example next to the Blue Mosque in Istanbul, which was carted from Luxor 1500 years ago, or so.
http://www.virtualtravels.com/turkey/005sultanahmetgrandbazaar.html

Posted By: belligerentyouth Re: obelisks - 02/22/01 10:21 AM
btw, what's hard about the pronunciation of the '-isk',
it's like *asterisk* all over again

Posted By: jmh Re: asterisk and obelisk - 02/22/01 10:41 AM
But nothing like:
Astérix et Obélix

http://www.asterix.tm.fr/france/index.asp?f=1

Posted By: des Re: obelisk - 02/22/01 03:28 PM
Enter http://dictionary.msn.com/find/entry.asp?refid=1861726001 Use search and then you may choose to hear the pronunciation they suggest! From Greek obeliskos they say, etc. Hope this address works for you.

Posted By: tsuwm Re: obelisk - 02/22/01 04:30 PM
or, optionally, click on this:

http://www.bartleby.com/61/wavs/64/O0006400.wav

Posted By: maverick Re: obelisk - 02/22/01 05:00 PM
Doesn't that sound ridiculous, if you repeat it a few times?!!

Posted By: Fiberbabe Re: obelisk - 02/22/01 05:28 PM
>Doesn't that sound ridiculous, if you repeat it a few times?!!

Tell me a word that doesn't sound ridiculous if you repeat it a few times!


Posted By: Jackie Re: obelisk - 02/22/01 08:00 PM
Doesn't that sound ridiculous, if you repeat it a few times?!!

Yup--just think of one of those cartoon characters getting bashed somehow, then sitting up, shaking their head rapidly
back and forth, while we hear, "Yobbity yobbity yobbity".
Great minds think alike, eh, Auntie?

Come to think of it that's what I do after reading some of these posts!

Posted By: Father Steve Americanisms - 02/24/01 07:06 PM
I'd say that most Americans who don't know what an obelisk is call them "miniature Washington Monuments".

or "pointy thingies."



Posted By: wwh "xxxxlisk" - 02/24/01 08:20 PM
Forgive me, but how many words can we think of that end in
"....lisk" ? The only one I can think of at the moment is
"basilisk"

Posted By: Geoff Re: obelisk - 02/24/01 08:26 PM
so i am wondering-- What would you call "cleopatria's needle*" or "Nelson's pillar"?

Based purely on shape, how about calling them monuments to the tax payer?

Posted By: Geoff Re: obelisk - 02/24/01 08:36 PM
Tell me a word that doesn't sound ridiculous if you repeat it a few times!

Just how ridiculous varies according to your emotional state, anatomical position, and level of self-medication.

Posted By: Father Steve Re: "xxxxlisk" - 02/24/01 08:50 PM
-lyskos, as it is used to form basilisk and obelisk, is a Greek dimnuitive. Hence the following constructions may be accomplished:

hypnolisk = a very short person who can put you to sleep

romantilisk = someone who engages in brief love affairs

misogynlisk = a person who detests little women.

philanthrolisk = the maker of small contributions to charitable causes



Posted By: wwh Re: "xxxxlisk" - 02/24/01 09:06 PM
My modest circumstances make me a philanthrolisk.

Posted By: Father Steve Re: "xxxxlisk" - 02/24/01 09:14 PM
My modest circumstances make me a philanthrolisk.

This makes you a penurlisk.





Posted By: wwh Re: "xxxxlisk" - 02/24/01 09:26 PM
Still,that's better than a penislisk.

Posted By: tsuwm Re: "xxxxlisk" - 02/24/01 09:30 PM
here are three more actual words from various dialects:
flisk - a whim [Scot]
glisk - a glimpse; a glance [Scot]
and lisk itself - the loin or flank

btw, oblisk is an obsolisk variant...
Posted By: Father Steve actual words - 02/24/01 09:35 PM
Dear tsuwm ~

What is the antonym of "actual"?



Posted By: wwh Re: actual words - 02/24/01 11:03 PM
Forgive me for butting in, but how about "virtual"?

Posted By: Seian Re: "xxxxlisk" - 02/24/01 11:07 PM
odalisk - n. A concubine or woman slave in a harem.

Ali
Posted By: tsuwm Re: actual words - 02/25/01 01:19 AM
>What is the antonym of "actual"?

too easy -- unactual

Posted By: paulb Re: "xxxxlisk" - 02/27/01 01:52 AM
… and "whisk"

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