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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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i used the word infirm recently, --and thought about it..
its clear how we get the word..
(from the American heritage dictionary, vie one look)
ETYMOLOGY: Middle English infirme, from Old French, from Latin infirmus : in-, not; see in–1 + firmus, strong, firm
but while firmus clearly is related to FIRM and firm can mean strong, we never (well i can't think of any examples) call healthy
people firm.. they might be strong, (as an ox) or hearty, or well, or lots of other words.. but firm?
infirm is another word like uncoth.. Infirm is not well, but Firm is not a common word for in good health or well
--
and since we have had several discussion of words like uncoth, etc. i put it here. i didn't think it was imporant enought to be discussed to death..
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Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 6,296
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Sep 2001
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Yet I do think of limbs as being firm--and the abdomen as being firm. Firm muscles, definitely. Firm handshake. So, although I don't think of a person overall as being firm, I do think of musculature as being firm, particularly without layers of fat.
Right now I am infirm and my muscles and body in general feel very much infirm. Would that this medication help lead me to a state of...firmity!!
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Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 1,385
veteran
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re "infirm": i didn't think it was imporant enought to be discussed to death..Only the infirm get discussed to death, Of Troy, unless they have health insurance. Then, they get killed on the operating table. :) Extract: Medical system is leading cause of death and injury in U.S. "The report also shows that 7.5 million unnecessary medical and surgical procedures are performed every year and 8.9 million people are needlessly hospitalized annually." http://www.newmediaexplorer.org/sepp/2003/10/29/medical_system_is_leading_cause_of_death_and_injury_in_us.htm
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This travesty is not amusing Plutarch, this is a crime rationalized by greed and conducted by con-men who hide behind a false oath.
They should be jailed. And beaten. And beaten.
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Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 11,613
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 11,613 |
Helen, that reminded me of my thoughts on "unstir"; and I heard another good one on TV this evening. It was a trial, and somebody let something "slip". The prosecutor was asked if it was likely that a jury really could disregard something it has heard, but shouldn't have. The prosecutor's reply was great. He said, "No. You can't unring a bell. It goes ringing on and on in peoples' minds".
It is odd that firm is not used to mean wellness, isn't it? I wonder if it used to be? (Ack--I hope the struggling-to-learn-English folks can figure out the two uses (!) of used.)
And speaking of bells--sound as a bell can be said when referring to good health.
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Joined: Dec 2000
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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It is odd that firm is not used to mean wellness, isn't it? I wonder if it used to be
OED1 4. Healthy, robust; sound, undecayed. Citation from 1577:
If the Horse have an ache, give it him with water, if he be ferme with good strong Wine.
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Joined: Sep 2001
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Sep 2001
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Ferme with good strong wine? Talking about Ol' Stewball!!!
Hey. And why wasn't good spelled 'goode' in that text?
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Joined: Jul 2000
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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Which explains why you get neutral spirits when you distill it.
TEd
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