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#14792 01/05/01 08:01 PM
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Just received an e-mail message from my choir director informing me that the organist's father died and choir practice was cancelled and music plans are changing after the Sunday bulletin has been printed. She concludes: "So, as you can see, our musical plans for Sunday have become quite discombooberated!"

This term does not appear in any of my dictionaries, yet I understand quite well what she means. This must present an additional challenge to ESL folks, having to learn not only the formal English language, but these sorts of made-up words, as well.

Following this week's theme about taking the negative out of words, is a "combooberated" person one who has it all together? Or just both of them together? Or what?




#14793 01/05/01 08:05 PM
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Funny - we use "discombobulated". But I figure it means the same thing. Dictionary.com has this to say:

dis·com·bob·u·late (dskm-bby-lt)
v. tr. dis·com·bob·u·lat·ed, dis·com·bob·u·lat·ing, dis·com·bob·u·lates.

To throw into a state of confusion. See Synonyms at confuse.

FWIW




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#14794 01/05/01 08:16 PM
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CapK uses discombobulated

That is certainly the form I learned at my mother(of whichever sex*)'s knee. I suspect a student of ESL would have similar problems with that one. I doubt if it's high on the list of Important Vocabulary Words.

*I think it was my father who used it.


#14795 01/05/01 08:55 PM
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I suspect a student of ESL would have similar problems with that one. I doubt if it's high on the list of Important Vocabulary Words.

Granted. Don't think I've used it in conversation ... ever! It would get me branded as uppity, I would imagine.



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#14796 01/05/01 08:57 PM
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I have a friend who speaks and writes using nonce words like this; words like 'contravivulated' and 'goofaglarbian' and 'slipshodderiness' -- you'll not find these in any dictionary, but you know pretty much what he means, in context. (as an aside, he styles himself as jmh; not to be confused with our own).


#14797 01/05/01 09:03 PM
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The Padre postulates: Following this week's theme about taking the negative out of words, is a "combooberated" person one who has it all together? Or just both of them together?

nota bene: Kaintuck's sleaze police spies are watching.....

(down here in the South of the good ol' US we say 'discombobulated' ... never heard the 'boob' variety.)


#14798 01/05/01 09:26 PM
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In reference to discombobulated CapK remarks that using it: "...would get me branded as uppity"

US'ns have always used it in a mock rustic way.


#14799 01/05/01 09:59 PM
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I've often heard discombobulated also, but usually from strick non-swearers who do not want to say f****d-up and never from a guy.


#14800 01/05/01 11:05 PM
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A "Mock Rustic" approach in Zild would be what Bel has said discombobulated is substituted for in her world. And both sexes would participate these days, I might add.



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#14801 01/07/01 02:21 AM
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is a "combooberated" person one who has it all together? Or just both of them together? Or what?

C'mere a minute, F.S.--I wish to discombooberate you.








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