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 4 of 4 1 2 3 4
#30321 05/29/01 03:34 PM
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 28
S
newbie
Offline
newbie
S
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 28
I've always seen the distinction as one of reflexive vs. [can't think of word - presentive(?)].

I orient myself in the Shawnee Nat'l Forest using a compass and the stars.
I orientate new students in(to) the MFA program.

I guess there's an official orientation program in the second instance, and that's what makes the difference. Does this make an ounce of sense? It should be said that I bridle at 'orientate' because it does seem a superfluous affix.


#30322 05/29/01 03:41 PM
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 28
S
newbie
Offline
newbie
S
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 28
I nearly blew coffee right out my prodigious schnozz when I read tsuwm's link. It hadn't even occurred to me to read the word in the previous post as a synonym of "inhabitant of the United States of America." I guess because I always spell it 'murikan (which still sounds to me like something out of Tolstoy's short story 'Hadji Murad'). How very entertaining.


#30323 05/29/01 03:48 PM
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 28
S
newbie
Offline
newbie
S
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 28
Ironical is pure dreck, imnsho.

but are lackadaisical, etc? What's the rule (presuming there is one) that regulates whether the -al gets affixed to the word? Are these all adjectives that have been created by lopping the adverbial suffix off?


Page 4 of 4 1 2 3 4

Moderated by  Jackie 

Link Copied to Clipboard
Forum Statistics
Forums16
Topics13,913
Posts229,333
Members9,182
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 (), 747 guests, and 1 robot.
Key: Admin, Global Mod, Mod
Top Posters(30 Days)
Top Posters
wwh 13,858
Faldage 13,803
Jackie 11,613
wofahulicodoc 10,542
tsuwm 10,542
LukeJavan8 9,916
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