|
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 1,475
veteran
|
veteran
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 1,475 |
Defense isn't a verb either, but defend is. Defence is a noun and defensive is an adjective.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 619
addict
|
addict
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 619 |
Tell that to AULTWU! [or whoever they are] Since I am a citizen of a country which retains the British monarch as a figurehead, I am entitled to express my opinion freely without fear of giving offence, or offense, to anyone.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 1,624
Pooh-Bah
|
Pooh-Bah
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 1,624 |
Your post got between me and my target, Grapho. Nothing to do with yours! Yes, I know defensive an adjective. But I was thinking about verbs around defend when I was typing, and a kinraidism slipped in. Faldage has precious few original thoughts, so all he can usually do to keep up his end of the conversation is to snipe from the sidelines . So, being a basically nice guy, I let him. It's "be kind to bored USns with not enough to do at work" week.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 619
addict
|
addict
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 619 |
sniping from the sidelines
Faldage has been very sivil to me lately, so I think he is entitled to a spirited defence.
Who's sniping at whom from the sidelines?
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 1,475
veteran
|
veteran
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 1,475 |
sniping from the sidelines
Silly me, I thought we were discussing words, not personality traits.
Anyway, the English verb defend comes from the Latin verb defendo, -ere, defendi, defensum 'to repell, guard, defend'. There's also a verb defenso 'to defend, protect' that is obviously derived from the past particple of defendo. Our noun, defence (alternate spelling defense) also comes from that past particple. I don't see that it's useful arguing about English spelling, but to each his own.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 1,624
Pooh-Bah
|
Pooh-Bah
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 1,624 |
Oh, I think that Faldo is quite capable of riposting on his own behalf!
|
|
|
|
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 619
addict
|
addict
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 619 |
I think that Faldo is quite capable of riposting on his own behalf!I'm sure. I just didn't want him riposting at me. Re: I don't see that it's useful arguing about English spelling, but to each his own.I am not interested in "arguing" about English spelling either. My subject was the historical context in which variations in English spellings arose, and whether or not that context might elucidate the variations. I don't think that is "arguing about English spelling". I don't think I'm even "arguing" about history, or, for that matter, about anything at all. I am simply positing a possible explanation for certain variations in spelling. If you disagree with me disputatiously, then we might be "arguing" about historical influences, I suppose, but, in any event, we would not be "arguing about English spelling". We both agree on how the variations of English spelling we are spelling are spelled. That means we are agreeing, not "arguing", or even disagreeing, about English spelling. So there! [It's been a slow afternoon for me as well.]
|
|
|
|
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 1,004
old hand
|
old hand
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 1,004 |
Please note that I said 'verb or other' forms.
Now I'll keep schtum.
the sunshine "let the blow fall soon or late, let what will be over me" warrior
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 1,475
veteran
|
veteran
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 1,475 |
Now I'll keep schtum.
Yiddish/English shtum is a great word. Related to German stumm and probably to our stumble.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803
Carpal Tunnel
|
OP
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803 |
Geez! A guy can't even poke the mickey anymore without everbody gettin all up in arms.
|
|
|
Forums16
Topics13,913
Posts229,504
Members9,187
|
Most Online3,341 Dec 9th, 2011
|
|
0 members (),
549
guests, and
3
robots. |
Key:
Admin,
Global Mod,
Mod
|
|
|
|