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#99813
04/01/2003 6:01 PM
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Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 9
stranger
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stranger
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 9 |
Is there a word for words that are self-defining, e.g, polysyllabic?
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#99814
04/01/2003 8:14 PM
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Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 10,542
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 10,542 |
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#99815
04/01/2003 8:30 PM
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Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858 |
I searched for tsuwm's "autological": and found a site that gives some discussion, and a list of examples. http://www.stanford.edu/~segerman/autological.htmlFor the heck of it I tried "ipsonymic" but drew a blank. Sob,sob!
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#99816
04/02/2003 1:17 AM
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Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 11,074 Likes: 2
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 11,074 Likes: 2 |
...words that are self-defining, e.g, polysyllabic?
...and sesquipedalian
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#99817
04/02/2003 10:51 AM
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Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 2,204
Pooh-Bah
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Pooh-Bah
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 2,204 |
polysyllabic? - ...and sesquipedalian
A fortuitous juxtaposition of words, wofa.
In my essay-writing classes, I warn my students against polsyllabic sesquipedalianism (and privately judge who is who among the class by seeing who laughs and who looks blank!)
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#99818
04/02/2003 11:34 AM
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Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 11,074 Likes: 2
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 11,074 Likes: 2 |
I warn my students against polsyllabic sesquipedalianism
...not unlike the bumper sticker ESCHEW OBFUSCATION.
I like the derivation.
sesqui- = one-and-a-half, as in sesquicentennial = a 150th-year oservation
pedal = pertaining to the foot
The word is a foot and a half long!
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