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Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 2,379
Pooh-Bah
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Pooh-Bah
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 2,379 |
Walking around Princeton Woods yesterday, we ran into an acquaintance, her family and new spaniel pup. She described the dog as 'crepuscular,' which she later seemed to suggest meant it slept a lot. Was she being poetic, or is this a standard meaning?
Signed,
undawning understanding
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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 first learned the word when forced to sit through an unsubtitled French film at the age of about 14 - I think the title renders as Twilight of the Gods, and I remember chasing the 'crepuscule' part back to a Latin word meaning dark. I've never seen a usage suggesting much extension beyond 'twilight' so I suspect she's taking a poetic stretch.
And heh, the literal answer to your headline question is yes - or, as they may say in Princeton, indubitably! ;)
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Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 3,467
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 3,467 |
There's nocturnal, coming out at night, diurnal, coming out in daylight, and crepuscular, coming out at twilight. Many deer are crepuscular, roaming and feeding during the hours from just before sundown to just when it's good and dark. Then they go into hiding again.
TEd
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Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858 |
Dear Inselpeter: again I tried to send you a PM,
and got error message saying 'To line not filled out'.
Why don't you squawk to Wordsmith?
For you, I'll break a promise I made to myself not to post.
Dear Inselpeter: I found a site by a lady PhD which
says dogs eveolved from a crepuscular (I forget(
Look at the link, go down to fourth paragraph,
near end of tenth line:
http://www.eyevet.info/coile1.html
So your Princeton Woods lady was just using a perfectly
acceptable technical word.
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Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 2,788
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 2,788 |
Would that Doctor Bill break his self-imposed silence more often. I read the article to which he referred us. Here is a clickable version of the address: http://www.eyevet.info/coile1.html
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Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 2,379
Pooh-Bah
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OP
Pooh-Bah
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 2,379 |
Thanks, Dr. Bill and Ted. So, first she was saying the dog was up all night, and then that he napped all day. Easy enough.
And may I second the honorable reverand and say that it is good to see you here. I'm flattered I could bring you out.
IP
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Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803 |
Amen to Father Steve's and inselpeter's remarks. It's good to have you post, Dr Bill.
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Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 500
addict
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addict
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 500 |
Yes, Dr. Bill - I'm glad you broke your promise to yourself!
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Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 4,189
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 4,189 |
>It's good to have you post, Dr Bill.<
I second, or third, or fourth, that emotion!!!
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Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 7,210
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 7,210 |
> second, or third, or fourth, that emotion!!!
well, I'm not taking the fifth on this! great to see you. Dr. Bill.
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