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Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858 |
Wordsmith gives an excellent example of a tragic tendency
of English to take a fine complimentary word, and let the
meaning drift to a snotty sneer. Der Quibblemeister is
shedding great big tears.
sententious (sen-TEN-shuhs) adjective
1. Full of pithy expressions.
2. Full of pompous moralizing.
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Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 2,661
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 2,661 |
Even if the drift you are speaking of is from "Full of meaning" to "Full of morals" it doesn't seem to (necessarily) be a bad thing... but perhaps the inflection is slanting towards those with less morals who see *it as being pompous.
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Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803 |
I see a simple transfer of meaning from one who has a lot of short witty sayings to one who has a lot of short sayings that just aren't quite so witty. Polonius in Hamlet had plenty of short sayings.
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Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858 |
Like the pedant who begam a scholar and teacher, to the pedant who is narrow and a bore.
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