Wordsmith.org: the magic of words

Wordsmith Talk

About Us | What's New | Search | Site Map | Contact Us  

Previous Thread
Next Thread
Print Thread
Page 2 of 4 1 2 3 4
#124193 03/01/04 12:23 AM
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 2,891
B
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
B
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 2,891
I've heard the word used only in the context of a person attaching himself/herself to someone else (or a group of people) but that person is not really wanted. The person who is glomming is considered undesirable in some way.

The conversation usually goes like this..."yeah, we just said hi to her while passing in the hall, and she glommed onto us and wouldn't leave us alone"


#124194 03/01/04 05:02 AM
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 2,788
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 2,788
Is glom ever used without "onto"?


#124195 03/01/04 10:13 AM
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 619
G
addict
Offline
addict
G
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 619
Is glom ever used without onto?

Good question, Father Steve.

The American Heritage Dictionary defines "glom" as a verb as follows:

"To seize upon or latch onto something".

Does this take us back to "hoi polloi" or "the hoi polloi"?

If "onto" is included in the definition, then "glom onto" is as wrong as "the hoi polloi".

But everyone says "glom onto", so we may as well glom onto the bandwagon.

On 2nd thought, I think it depends on the usage.

A person can climb a fire escape ... if they are already on it. But you have to "climb onto" a fire escape before you can actually begin to climb it. (Ditto climbing stairs if the first step is obstructed.)

The same holds true with "glom".

An oil spill is carried by the tide until it "gloms onto" a shoreline.

On the other hand, a military invader "gloms" a beachhead. The shoreline is just the place where "the glom", like "the climb", begins.

A person who intends to take [and keep] an advantage, will "glom" an advantage.

If the taking is more symbolic than real, like occupying a public place as a protest, then the protesters are simply "glomming onto" an advantage.

#124196 03/01/04 02:04 PM
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 1,526
veteran
Offline
veteran
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 1,526

I use the word perhaps every three or four months. I don't know what it's supposed to mean or where I picked it up at - though I think it must have been hanging out with other computerists. I get the same sense of "stickiness" that others report, but also the notion of attractiveness - like electrical or gravitational. Oddly, at the moment I can't think of exactly HOW I use it, but I'm pretty sure I've never used it to mean "understand."

It's one of those words on which I latch when I'm groping for a more discriptive term and think, "Well, this pretty much conveys what I intend."

k



#124197 03/01/04 02:24 PM
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 10,542
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 10,542
>never used [glom] to mean "understand."

I'd use 'grok' in that instance. :)


#124198 03/01/04 02:29 PM
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803
Being the old harrumphy(®) prescriptivist that I am, I prefer to keep grok in its sense of comprehending completely, including all the ramifications and unintended consequences. This means that, for lack of a real world referrent, it is a word that is never used.


#124199 03/01/04 02:40 PM
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 1,475
J
veteran
Offline
veteran
J
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 1,475
Grok, from the Martian, 'to comprehehnd, understand completely'.



#124200 03/02/04 03:48 AM
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 2,788
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 2,788
This discussion makes me feel like a stranger in a strange land.




#124201 03/02/04 05:08 AM
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 619
G
addict
Offline
addict
G
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 619
This discussion makes me feel like a stranger in a strange land.

If it gloms onto you, you will grok it.

But it's sticky like a booger, and you might have to wash your hands afterwards.

I think that pretty much sums it up, Father Steve.





#124202 03/02/04 07:23 AM
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 1,624
Pooh-Bah
Offline
Pooh-Bah
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 1,624
Isn't it interesting just how a word like "grok", sourced from a book and never used anywhere else previously, can become well-enough known that a conversation about it here doesn't actually have everyone asking (a) what it means, and (b) where it comes from?

I wonder if Robert the Misogynist .. er, Heinlein would really want to be remembered for just ONE word, given his prodigous, if repetitive, literary output?


Page 2 of 4 1 2 3 4

Moderated by  Jackie 

Link Copied to Clipboard
Forum Statistics
Forums16
Topics13,913
Posts229,580
Members9,187
Most Online3,341
Dec 9th, 2011
Newest Members
Karin, JeffMackwood, artguitar, Jim_W, Rdbuffalo
9,187 Registered Users
Who's Online Now
0 members (), 332 guests, and 0 robots.
Key: Admin, Global Mod, Mod
Top Posters(30 Days)
Top Posters
wwh 13,858
Faldage 13,803
Jackie 11,613
wofahulicodoc 10,713
tsuwm 10,542
LukeJavan8 9,931
AnnaStrophic 6,511
Wordwind 6,296
of troy 5,400
Disclaimer: Wordsmith.org is not responsible for views expressed on this site. Use of this forum is at your own risk and liability - you agree to hold Wordsmith.org and its associates harmless as a condition of using it.

Home | Today's Word | Yesterday's Word | Subscribe | FAQ | Archives | Search | Feedback
Wordsmith Talk | Wordsmith Chat

© 1994-2024 Wordsmith

Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.5