Wordsmith.org: the magic of words

Wordsmith Talk

 About Us | What's New | Search | Site Map | Contact Us  

You are not logged in. [Log In] Wordsmith.org » Forums » (Old) Weekly themes. (have been consolidated into a single forum above) » Words with unusual etymologies » Philosophaster & Newscaster
Register User    Forum List        Calendar     Active Topics     Search     FAQ
Topic Options
#31703 - 06/11/01 12:35 AM Philosophaster & Newscaster
Many Vices Offline
stranger

Registered: 06/11/01
Posts: 1
Loc: MA
In AWAD News 33, someone wrote a post saying that the "-aster" of "philosophaster" was a pejorative suffix, and then claimed that the word "newscaster" made sense. To me, this seems like a bit of morphological confusion, because a newscaster is quite literally "one who casts news," while a philosophaster isn't one who "asts philosophs." And the word doesn't morphologically break into "newsc" and "aster." Am I wrong? To me it's like saying the words "dentist" and "desist" are etymologically related simply by the shared "-ist." I don't see much, if any, relation between the two, but I'm willing to hear arguments to the contrary.


Top
#31704 - 06/11/01 01:15 PM Re: Philosophaster & Newscaster
Faldage Offline
Carpal Tunnel

Registered: 12/01/00
Posts: 13657
the "-aster" of "philosophaster" was a pejorative suffix, and then claimed that the word "newscaster" made sense.

I wouldn't necessarily be looking for too much deep linguistic meaning in an email from someone called Jellybean Stonerfish*.

You'd also have to consider that perhaps a philosophaster was someone who phasted philosoes, much as a poetaster is someone who tastes poes.

*But then, I'm not so sure about taking advice from someone called Faldage, either


Top
#31705 - 06/11/01 02:52 PM Re: Philosophaster & Newscaster
tsuwm Online confused
Carpal Tunnel

Registered: 04/03/00
Posts: 10464
Loc: this too shall pass
I would venture the opinion that mr. jellyfish is a philologaster.[smle]

I guess that would be an empty smile...

Top
#31706 - 06/12/01 09:03 AM Re: Philosophaster & Newscaster
AnnaStrophic Offline
Carpal Tunnel

Registered: 03/15/00
Posts: 6511
Loc: lower upstate New York
I would venture the opinion that mr. jellyfish is a philologaster.

And if jellyfish have feet, he'd be a pederaster.


Top
#31707 - 06/24/01 11:10 AM Re: Philosophaster & Newscaster
inselpeter Offline
Pooh-Bah

Registered: 03/14/01
Posts: 2379
Loc: New York City
A philosophaster is a star philosopher.


Top


Moderator:  Jackie 
Forum Stats
8430 Members
16 Forums
13689 Topics
209809 Posts

Max Online: 3341 @ 12/09/11 02:15 PM
Newest Members
supermatthias, prabakaran, sce, Eva, sylviasuper
8430 Registered Users
Who's Online
0 registered (), 38 Guests and 1 Spider online.
Key: Admin, Global Mod, Mod
Top Posters (30 Days)
LukeJavan8 85
jenny jenny 60
wofahulicodoc 57
endymion6 50
Rhubarb Commando 37
BranShea 33
Faldage 14
Buffalo Shrdlu 14
zmjezhd 13
teepee 11
May
Su M Tu W Th F Sa
1 2 3 4
5 6 7 8 9 10 11
12 13 14 15 16 17 18
19 20 21 22 23 24 25
26 27 28 29 30 31
Board Rules · Mark all read
Contact Us · Wordsmith.org · Top

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

© 2013 Wordsmith