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On a CNN broadcast today, concerning the impact of the most recent hurricane to batter Florida, the male anchor said that he was "efforting" to reach a person by telephone. God save us all.
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no prescrip here, but that's just yucky.
formerly known as etaoin...
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Carpal Tunnel
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Actually, effort is a verb in the OED, but it means to strengthen or fortify.
The verb that "accompanies" effort is efforce, according to the OED, and means to force oneself or to make an effort.
I had not known either of these.
Too bad I had to learn them from such an ugly verbification.
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Carpal Tunnel
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"He efforted his spirits with remembrance ... of what formally he had been."
Thomas Fuller. 1662. Worthies. (Secundum OED1.)
Of course, it sounds strange, is marked as obsolete, and is the only citation for effort qua verb. La!
Ceci n'est pas un seing.
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Pooh-Bah
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Pooh-Bah
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That is, "he fortified himself . . . " yes? which wouldn't pinch hit for "make an effort" in the newscaster's strained utterance.
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Carpal Tunnel
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The meaning has changed since the 17th century.
Ceci n'est pas un seing.
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Carpal Tunnel
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Quote:
On a CNN broadcast today, concerning the impact of the most recent hurricane to batter Florida, the male anchor said that he was "efforting" to reach a person by telephone. God save us all.
Are you imploring the Deity's protection of us from hurricanes or from those with a tin ear for the English language?
Bingley
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Are you imploring the Deity's protection of us from hurricanes or from those with a tin ear for the English language?
Hurricanes inhere in the nature of the planet. There is no controlling much less correcting them. Ignorance, on the other hand, is vincible (in most cases) and deserves an effort at correction. Bottom line: I wrote a letter to CNN.
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Pooh-Bah
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Pooh-Bah
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Quote:
The meaning has changed since the 17th century.
Given that there is only one recorded occurrence prior to the anchor man's (may be sink with with his title), I'd say that was not just a change, but a quantum leap. No, a lousy coinage is a lousy coinage is a lousy coinage.
Last edited by inselpeter; 10/27/05 08:57 AM.
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Relax people. In a couple years it'll sound as normal as "contacting."
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Relax people. In a couple years it'll sound as normal as "contacting."
Sage advice, Faldage: "Lie back and think of England."
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Carpal Tunnel
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Quote:
"Lie back and think of England."
Oh, right! Like we're gonna lissen to them about language use.
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enthusiast
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enthusiast
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You know, I once wrote "effortly"... imagine my embarrassment when I found out there is no adverb to that word. But it does make sense theoretically right? I was surprised to find out "effort" is strictly a noun, since I expected such a popular word to be more "flexible". As for the topic, I see it more as a nonce word than a malapropism.. but that's just me. Father Steve, you seriously wrote a letter to them? yoicks... I'm glad you weren't my English teacher.
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Father Steve, you seriously wrote a letter to them? yoicks... I'm glad you weren't my English teacher.
Ever since The Atlantic Monthly commissioned me as a member of the Word Police, I have taken my responsibilities very seriously.
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Carpal Tunnel
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Isn't this a conflict of interest, being a member of the judiciary and the constabulary?
Bingley
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>a member of the Word Police..
I tore up my WP certification when The Atlantic Monthly online went to a subscription basis.
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Carpal Tunnel
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a conflict of interest, being a member of the judiciary and the constabulary?
Ah, but in such different jurisdictions!
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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Quote:
Father Steve, you seriously wrote a letter to them? yoicks... I'm glad you weren't my English teacher.
Ever since The Atlantic Monthly commissioned me as a member of the Word Police, I have taken my responsibilities very seriously.
Would it help if I told you I was a member, too?
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Pooh-Bah
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Pooh-Bah
Joined: Mar 2001
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Quote:
Quote:
Father Steve, you seriously wrote a letter to them? yoicks... I'm glad you weren't my English teacher.
Ever since The Atlantic Monthly commissioned me as a member of the Word Police, I have taken my responsibilities very seriously.
Would it help if I told you I was a member, too?
Did y'all get a decoder ring?
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Joined: Dec 2000
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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Quote:
Quote:
Quote:
Father Steve, you seriously wrote a letter to them? yoicks... I'm glad you weren't my English teacher.
Ever since The Atlantic Monthly commissioned me as a member of the Word Police, I have taken my responsibilities very seriously.
Would it help if I told you I was a member, too?
Did y'all get a decoder ring?
We don' need no steenkin decoder ring. In fack we need to prove we don' need no steenkin decoder ring to get in.
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Joined: Mar 2001
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Pooh-Bah
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Pooh-Bah
Joined: Mar 2001
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Quote:
Quote:
Quote:
Quote:
Father Steve, you seriously wrote a letter to them? yoicks... I'm glad you weren't my English teacher.
Ever since The Atlantic Monthly commissioned me as a member of the Word Police, I have taken my responsibilities very seriously.
Would it help if I told you I was a member, too?
Did y'all get a decoder ring?
We don' need no steenkin decoder ring. In fack we need to prove we don' need no steenkin decoder ring to get in.
So in other words, you won't share it.
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