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 2 of 3 1 2 3
#150635 11/20/05 03:09 PM
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 2,788
Carpal Tunnel
OP Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 2,788
Taunt all you like for the Fighting Cougars of Washington State University vanquished the scruffy Dawgs of the University of Washington, 26-22. All is well with the world and we may now proceed to observe the Christ the King Sunday.

#150636 11/20/05 03:33 PM
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 6,511
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 6,511
Quote:

Is the accent on the first syllable, as it is in the noun in a sports context?

No pronuciation is given for the word.




Maybe Fr Steve remembers the pronunciation from the broadcast. I see no problem with verbifying this noun; it seems a pretty handy distinction, just as offensing would mean something completely different from offending.

#150637 11/20/05 03:36 PM
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 7,210
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 7,210
I would guess a slight accent on the fens part.


formerly known as etaoin...
#150638 11/20/05 04:21 PM
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 3,467
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 3,467
So why isn't it defencing on the other side of the pond? I found a bunch of sites with UK extensions in the URL which had defensing. Also I found several sites with the c which had things like "defencing and attacking". Seems to me that all defencing or defensing do as opposed to defending is to go one more step towards shitty English.

But I guess sports English is to English like gullah is to English. Have at it, folks, and when you get to the point where no one understands what the other person means then perhaps some few of you will go back to some plain common-sense rules.

Still don't see any reason to verb a noun when the ver already exists. grumble, mumble, fade to silence.


TEd
#150639 11/20/05 04:38 PM
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803
Quote:



Still don't see any reason to verb a noun when the ver already exists. grumble, mumble, fade to silence.




What's the verb that "defense" is replacing?

#150640 11/21/05 05:09 PM
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 22
stranger
Offline
stranger
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 22
Quote:

I see no problem with verbifying this noun...




According to Calvin and Hobbes, the verb form of verb is "verb", as in "I like to verb words." (Said by Calvin.) Therefore, the correct useage would be "I see no problem with verbing this noun..." Let us not compound the solecism!


Back to the original question, I would say that the correct expression would simply have been "...defending against..." The defensive player is not in support of the play (defending it), he is against the play (defending against it). Besides, I think it sounds more correct.

#150641 11/21/05 05:19 PM
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 3,290
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 3,290
The OED1 has verbify from 1813, and nary hair nor hide of its synonym verb qua verb. I see usage of neither as a solecism, but more a matter of choice.


Ceci n'est pas un seing.
#150642 11/21/05 05:21 PM
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 7,210
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 7,210
perhaps the sportscaster is telling us that the defender is doing more than just his part; he is working within the larger defensive strategy. a sort of meta-defense.


formerly known as etaoin...
#150643 11/21/05 07:15 PM
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 22
stranger
Offline
stranger
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 22
Quote:

perhaps the sportscaster is telling us that the defender is doing more than just his part; he is working within the larger defensive strategy. a sort of meta-defense.




Hmm, perhaps, but I've never thought of sportscasters as meta sort of people...

As to "verbify," I am astounded! I have never heard it before today. And in 1813? This verbification business goes back farther than I thought! I suppose I shouldn't be surprised; languages never stop changing, and the sportscasters among us never tire of creating new words, forms, and uses when they can't remember or don't know the existing terms and expressions. Does the OED also have "verb" as a verb? That would surprise me even more.

#150644 11/21/05 07:30 PM
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 3,467
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 3,467
Quote:

Does the OED also have "verb" as a verb? That would surprise me even more.




nope.


TEd
Page 2 of 3 1 2 3

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 (), 744 guests, and 2 robots.
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