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 6 of 8 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
#11445 12/07/00 01:15 PM
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 4,757
M
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
M
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 4,757
Yep. A fine area to walk and wander in the wilderness. Maaarvellous!


#11446 12/07/00 06:27 PM
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 3,146
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 3,146
Mav, stop acting the goat!



The idiot also known as Capfka ...
#11447 12/08/00 01:57 AM
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 3,409
M
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
M
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 3,409
In reply to:

That was a good get" is an example of noun verbing, one that sports commentators seem to like. Then I checked Merriam-Websters online dictionary only to find that it lists "get" as a noun with one meaning being "a return of a difficult shot in a game (as tennis)". I haven't researched it further, but I'd bet it originated from nouning a verb. There are probably a lot more like it.


A try in rugby, perhaps? As I understand it, in the early days of the game, when a player crossed the opposition's line and dotted the ball down, he was allowed to try to kick a goal, hence "a try".




Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 3,409
M
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
M
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 3,409
I'm not sure if anybody has already mentioned this one, but the increasing popularity of digital cellphones has led to the noun verbing I used above. The practice of sending text messages via cellphone is now called "texting" - a contraction of "text messaging." The largest digital cell network here in NZ offers the service free on Wednesdays, so you will often hear someone say, "I'll text you on Wednesday", especially if that someone is under the age of 20. "Texting" has become so rampant that examination supervisors have had to confiscate cellphones to prevent exam answers being "texted" to candidates. Nope, frequent use doesn't make it sound any better.


#11449 12/08/00 03:15 AM
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 11,613
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 11,613
I would like to condemn whoever started using this word to mean that they are convinced of something. Perhaps
Father Steve might have something to say about this: where I've seen it is in religious literature. Our former pastor would occasionally say this word, causing my teeth to be on edge. This word is being used as a verbified form
for conviction. Simple example: I am convicted that the sky is blue. Stupid!!!!! (Sorry, Auntie, I know you wish your sky would be blue.)


#11450 12/08/00 03:24 AM
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 3,409
M
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
M
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 3,409
I am convicted that the sky is blue. Stupid

Definitively! That's a little mannerism of mine, consciously using "definitively" for "definitely". I started doing it around at 10 years of age, and it has become ingrained. I wonder if the misuse of "convicted" had similar origins.


#11451 12/08/00 08:23 AM
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 3,146
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 3,146
Max admits Definitively! That's a little mannerism of mine, consciously using "definitively" for "definitely"..

Well, you therefore stand convicted of a definitive abuse of the English language.

One of the verbal "tics" I personally loathe is the use of "typically" to falsely reinforce your point of view. For instance, "Typically, the moon is made of Stilton cheese". Grrrrrrrrrrrrr



The idiot also known as Capfka ...
#11452 12/08/00 07:08 PM
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 3,467
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 3,467
> "get" as a noun with one meaning being "a return of a difficult shot in a game (as tennis)"

That's not a very good dictionary. Get is either the act of begetting or the product of such act, according to my dictionary. I admit to being partial to the former, not being a tennis player. So what's love got to do with it ?



TEd
#11453 12/08/00 07:10 PM
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 3,467
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 3,467
I had to stop using mine for that purpose, since everything got garbled, and I didn't want to be known for textual deviation.



TEd
#11454 12/08/00 07:20 PM
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 3,467
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 3,467
Jackie:

When I read your post I was amazed that someone could use convict in this manner, and assumed it was a backformation from conviction. I consulted my dictionary, and found the first definition of convict to be to find or prove guilty, but the second is interesting: to convince of wrongdoing or sinfulness. So I went to convince, and found there as an obsolete usage: to convict!!!

To me, there's something even uglier than what you cited: I convinced the person to stop his action. ARGH!!! convince is to cause someone to believe something, not to coerce!

Thanks for leading me to look. I learned something very interesting!



TEd
Page 6 of 8 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

Moderated by  Jackie 

Link Copied to Clipboard
Forum Statistics
Forums16
Topics13,913
Posts229,322
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 (), 453 guests, and 0 robots.
Key: Admin, Global Mod, Mod
Top Posters(30 Days)
Top Posters
wwh 13,858
Faldage 13,803
Jackie 11,613
tsuwm 10,542
wofahulicodoc 10,535
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