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Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 24
stranger
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stranger
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 24 |
How come "Hector" means a bully whereas the actual Hector of Illiad was a great hero.
tuhin
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Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803 |
Was Hector noted for being domineering? It's not mutually exclusive with being a hero in times of war. Besides, he was on the losing side and the winners write the language.
Why does Nimrod mean doofus when the original Nimrod was a mighty hunter?
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Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 270
enthusiast
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enthusiast
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 270 |
According to my dictionary it does mean "mighty hunter".
Although I refrain from using eponyms.
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Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 4,757
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 4,757 |
> I refrain from using eponyms
I agree - boycott them all!
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Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 270
enthusiast
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enthusiast
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 270 |
Damn those cynic carpal tunnels!
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Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 203
enthusiast
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enthusiast
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 203 |
Quote:
ORIGIN late Middle English : from the Greek name Hector . Originally denoting a hero, the sense later became [braggart or bully] (applied in the late 17th cent. to a member of a gang of youths in London, England), hence [talk to in a bullying way.]
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Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 557
addict
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addict
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 557 |
Quote:
Why does Nimrod mean doofus when the original Nimrod was a mighty hunter?
Would you believe it's Bugs Bunny's fault? Bugs used nimrod to refer to Elmer Fudd sarcastically as a (not-so) mighty hunter. Children, not being Biblical scholars and Nimrod only being a passing mention anyway, assumed this was just referring to Fudd's generally inept Fudd-iness.
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Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803 |
Thank you, Myridon. I think I had that tucked away back in the dusty back corner of my JunkDrawerMemory®. Thanks for dragging it out where I might remember it for a few minutes.
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