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In the introduction to this week's words we are told that "an affix can't be attached to another affix." But what about the word, "disembark"? I've long wondered why we don't just have "embark" and "debark" or "ebark." Any suggestions?
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In the introduction to this week's words we are told that "an affix can't be attached to another affix." But what about the word, "disembark"? Not to mention the one time supposed claimant to the longest word in the English language award, "Antidisestablishmentarianism." I've long wondered why we don't just have "embark" and "debark" or "ebark." Any suggestions? Because 'debark' is what you do to a noisy dog? 
Last edited by The Pook; 04/15/08 02:06 AM.
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An affix that has a team player ethos and nothing to prove may, to help all linguistic atoms get along, drop its affix role, move over, and serve other than in its customary prefix or suffix position. After all, what's in a name?
Last edited by morphememedley; 04/15/08 07:22 AM.
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Carpal Tunnel
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Then there's words that are formed of nothing but affixes. E.g., reify or semiotic.
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Then there's words that are formed of nothing but affixes. E.g., reify or semiotic. is only accidentally (in the Platonic sense) composed of affixes. The "re" in it is arguably not the prefix meaning 'in reference to' or 'done for a second time' etc, but the preposition meaning 'thing' - the word means to 'thingify' an abstract concept, that is, to make it re-al or concrete. Re is the root word that the suffix -ify has been added to.
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Then there's words that are formed of nothing but affixes. E.g., reify or semiotic. is only accidentally (in the Platonic sense) composed of affixes. The "re" in it is arguably not the prefix meaning 'in reference to' or 'done for a second time' etc, but the preposition meaning 'thing' - the word means to 'thingify' an abstract concept, that is, to make it re-al or concrete. Re is the root word that the suffix -ify has been added to. And the Fool gently pulls his tongue out from its place in his cheek and quietly snickers.
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old hand
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Then there's words that are formed of nothing but affixes. E.g., reify or semiotic. is only accidentally (in the Platonic sense) composed of affixes. The "re" in it is arguably not the prefix meaning 'in reference to' or 'done for a second time' etc, but the preposition meaning 'thing' - the word means to 'thingify' an abstract concept, that is, to make it re-al or concrete. Re is the root word that the suffix -ify has been added to. And the Fool gently pulls his tongue out from its place in his cheek and quietly snickers. yup 
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And the Fool gently pulls his tongue out from its place in his cheek and quietly snickers. Half-an-earful of semi-otic sarcasm delivered via semaphore?
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