Register Log In UBB.threads Forums General Topics Miscellany What does this quote mean? Search Advanced Forum Search Forums Calendar Active Threads

Previous Thread Next Thread Print Thread What does this quote mean? #213930 01/11/2014 3:40 PM Joined: Oct 2013 Posts: 12 momi1234 stranger momi1234 stranger Joined: Oct 2013 Posts: 12 OBSOLETE, adj. No longer used by the timid. Said chiefly of words. A word which some lexicographer has marked obsolete is ever thereafter an object of dread and loathing to the fool writer, but if it is a good word and has no exact modern equivalent equally good, it is good enough for the good writer. Indeed, a writer's attitude toward "obsolete" words is as true a measure of his literary ability as anything except the character of his work. A dictionary of obsolete and obsolescent words would not only be singularly rich in strong and sweet parts of speech; it would add large possessions to the vocabulary of every competent writer who might not happen to be a competent reader. What do you think it means? This is from the Devil's dictionary. Especially the last sentence. Copy Link to Clipboard Re: What does this quote mean? momi1234 #213931 01/11/2014 4:20 PM Joined: Apr 2000 Posts: 10,542 this too shall pass tsuwm Carpal Tunnel tsuwm Carpal Tunnel Joined: Apr 2000 Posts: 10,542 this too shall pass you must have a predilection for irony. here is a bit of good advice that I found: You should use obsolete or archaic words when: 1 No other word will serve (as in a scholarly piece about history or linguistics, for example). 2 You want to confuse your audience or make them laugh. 3 You want to sound pretentious or pedantic. Note: this is hard advice for me to pass on, as I have an entire web site based on obscure, abstruse and/or recondite words, which often run to obsolete and archaic extremes. Copy Link to Clipboard Re: What does this quote mean? tsuwm #213935 01/11/2014 11:29 PM Joined: Dec 2000 Posts: 13,803 Faldage Carpal Tunnel Faldage Carpal Tunnel Joined: Dec 2000 Posts: 13,803 Ambrose Bierce, author of The Devil's Dictionary, was noted for his acerbic definitions. Another example: Originally Posted By: Ambrose Bierce: The Devil's Dictionary Conservative (n.) A statesman who is enamoured of existing evils, as distinguished from the Liberal, who wishes to replace them with others. Copy Link to Clipboard Re: What does this quote mean? momi1234 #213969 01/15/2014 9:16 AM Joined: Oct 2013 Posts: 12 momi1234 stranger momi1234 stranger Joined: Oct 2013 Posts: 12 Thank you. Copy Link to Clipboard Moderated by  Jackie  Hop To General Topics ------  Information and announcements  Q&A about words  Wordplay and fun  Words and languages in schools  Miscellany  Weekly Themes  Looking for (writers, speakers,... (Old) Weekly themes. (have been... ------  Words from medicine  Beheading words  Meta-words  Words from classical mythology  Animal Safari  Words with unusual etymologies  Eponyms or words derived from p...  Loanwords from German  English as a global language Print Thread Switch to Threaded Mode Show Likes Link Copied to Clipboard View Profile Private Message Follow User Forum Posts Like Summary View Profile Private Message Website Follow User Forum Posts Like Summary View Profile Private Message Website Follow User Forum Posts Like Summary View Profile Private Message Follow User Forum Posts Like Summary

Default Style BlackNTan Drab eBay GooG v2 infopop new dark new light original dark original stock rounded corners Slate snow sunny dropshadow theblues Touch Of Grey UBB.threads UBB.threads - Dark UBB.threads - Light UBBCentral UBBCentral - Crimson UBBCentral - Lime UBBCentral - Marshmallow UBBCentral - Mocha UBBCentral - Zen UBBT77 UBBT77 - Dark ubbthreads ubbthreads-dark Forum Rules · Mark All Read Contact Us · Forum Help · UBB.threads