We now have an additional meaning to the word, Protean. Apart from the findings of the study, I am rather interested in two words that it throws up: protean, in its new avatar and, proceptivity. The authors seem to stress on female proceptivity. Does proceptivity apply to both sexes; I can't think of why, but I have always thought of it as initiation by the female.

http://www.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,4057,6137653^13762,00.html

Australian McDonald's have a Toasted Cheese and Tomato Sandwich?

I don't about McDonalds Oz, but McDonalds NZ certainly does.

hmmm. nothing like that here in the US...
but I suppose you don't have McRibs over there...

what a crazy world...

Now we know why "There'll always be an England!"
The little Foxes will see to that, proceptively.
But protean seems poor choice for female mixed signals.
Proteus was trying to escape, not entrap.Gotta go look him up.

protean, in its new avatar and, proceptivity

I submit that "protean signals" is a mongrelization, mistakenly related to "proceptivity" which has its in true origins in the term "sexual receptivity", as follows:

Most nonhuman female mammals have a cyclic ovarian estrus cycle, during which they have a fairly limited period of sexual receptivity and emit olfactory, and behavioral signals of their willingness to copulate (Daly & Wilson, 1983).

proception signals is the proper term, but, as with many mongrelisms, it is not so vivid, and, therefore, not so useful for marketing purposes [in this case, promoting a book on female courting habits].

Dear Wordminstrel: I am baffled and a bit perturbed by your
preoccupation with my old sparring mate Faldage.

I am ... a bit perturbed by your preoccupation with my old sparring mate

Quite right, wwh. I have been a bit of a hog. Very well. He's all yours.

Dear Wordminstrel: Faldage has been too nice to me lately for me to enjoy needling him. I just hope that any exchanges will be mutally enjoyable.
I'd rather hear someone improve on "protean" to describe the female tactics discribed in the URL. In war, deceit and disinformation are standard tactis. A confused opponent is at a disadvantage. Try to put all that into one word.

Makes more sense if we change the spelling to proteens.

Too many teens are pros these days.

I just hope that any exchanges will be mutally enjoyable.

Upon reflection, I have edited my earlier post, wwh. The allusion to Faldage was not just.

That said "protean" has no more do with "proceptivity" than "promiscuous" has to do with "promise".

"Proceptivity" is not coquetry, but an instinctive ritual enacted in earnest in service of the survival of our species. "Protean" misogynizes the ritual, casting "proceptive" women in the role of teases, morphing from mood to mood capriciously, without care or reason.

I agree, wwh, let us improve on the term "Protean" signals. But not, with respect, in the direction you suggest, with emphasis on disinformation and duplicity.

Let us celebrate "proceptivity", or, at least, enjoy it. But let us not defame it.

Personally, I am very "pro" proceptivity ... and I think we should each do our bit to encourage it.

Hey, WM: Your word duplicitous, or duplicity is what I was trying to think of. Double meanings, with razzberry for failure to perceive the hidden promise. Proceptivity meaning the promised land is just that.But only for the brave.

Proceptivity meaning the promised land is just that.But only for the brave.

Ah, yes, wwh. But, as the poet said:

"The brave deserve the lovely."

And yet, it is so much more than poetry. It is Nature's quintessential wisdom.

Apparently more proverbial than poetic:
Only the brave deserve the fair.
Faint heart never won fair lady.

Apparently more proverbial than poetic

Poetic, proverbial and melodic, too.

["Alexander's Feast" by Handel]

'Twas at the Royal Feast,
for Persian won,
by Philip's warlike son:
Aloft, in awful state,
the god-like hero sate
on his imperial throne:

His valiant peers were plac'd around:
their brows with roses and with
myrtles bound:

So shou'd desert in arms be crown'd.

The lovely Thais by his side
sate like a blooming eastern bride,
in flow'r of youth, and beauty's pride.

N°3 Aria Tenore & Coro
Happy, happy,
happy pair!
none but the brave,
none but the brave deserve the fair.

Nice find WM. It eluded me. The dates on the proverbs suggest that they antedated Handel.

Handel didn't speak English very well, so he stuck to the tunes. His main librettist was Charles Jennens, but the guy responsible for the lyrics in the Cecilian Ode Alexander's Feast was one John Hughes.

Credit where it's due

Indeed, and credit back to you.

<<<Australian McDonald's have a Toasted Cheese and Tomato Sandwich?>>>
Hang on a minute -Isn't there an award for taking a subject off thread the quickest and the furthest while still maintaining the most tenuous and exiguous connection? Why hasn't the Academy recognised etaoin's exceptional achievement?
jj

"The brave deserve the lovely."

And yet, it is so much more than poetry. It is Nature's quintessential wisdom.
Fortunately, there is also scrambling of the genes in the process - otherwise there would be but despair among the majority of us.

Fortunately, there is also scrambling of the genes in the process - otherwise there would be but despair among the majority of us.

otherwise there would be but despair among the majority of us

Or, as is so often said:

the majority is the despair of us.

the majority is the despair of us.
Amen.

wwh: improve on "protean"

WM: with emphasis on disinformation and duplicity.

meretricious proceptivity?