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#113175 10/05/2003 7:05 PM
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858
wwh
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'Now, there you mistake,’ said Sir John, in his most benignant way. ‘There—which is a most remarkable circumstance for a man of your punctuality and exactness, Haredale—you fall into error. I don’t belong to the body; I have an immense respect for its members, but I don’t belong to it; although I am, it is certainly true, the conscientious opponent of your being relieved. I feel it my duty to be so; it is a most unfortunate necessity; and cost me a bitter struggle.—Will you try this box? If you don’t object to a trifling infusion of a very chaste scent, you’ll find its flavour exquisite.’



I found myself pronouncing the "g" hard, and wondered if that were correct, as I have never heard in pronounced. Turns out that is correct, though it sounds horrid to me.
benignant [bý'nýgnənt]
adjective
1 kind; gracious, as a king to his subjects

2 a less common word for: benign [3] [4]
be'nignancy noun
be'nignantly adverb(ial)

makes it rhyme with "malignant", its antonym. I'm used to the hard "g" there, and it doesn't bother me.


#113176 10/05/2003 9:10 PM
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 7,210
Carpal Tunnel
Carpal Tunnel
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Posts: 7,210
rhyme with "malignant

I thought of indignant.



formerly known as etaoin...
#113177 10/05/2003 10:39 PM
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wwh
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Dear etaoin: the thing that jarred me was going from "benigh" to "benignant".


#113178 10/05/2003 11:16 PM
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 7,210
Carpal Tunnel
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 7,210
going from "benign" to "benignant"

ah, yes, I see. one of those "change the pronunciation when you change the tense" kind of words...



formerly known as etaoin...

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