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Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 18
stranger
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OP
stranger
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 18 |
The word you are looking for is "palliator". One who masks or hides. Also one who eases the pain (and in turn the unease and suffering) of others. It's an offshoot of palliative,
Palliative care is the caring for the chronically and terminally ill.
Nice.
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Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 2,379
Pooh-Bah
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Pooh-Bah
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 2,379 |
Good word / not quite. The word has to work two ways.
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Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803 |
The official term need not in any way elucidate the function of these individuals or their team. It is a word used by the government that created the position/team and should probably be obfuscatory as hell. The common term should lay the obfuscation bare. Hopefully we can come up with a term for the former that easily converts to the latter by a very small change.
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Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 2,379
Pooh-Bah
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Pooh-Bah
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 2,379 |
It's a title and has to fascinate, and sell books.
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Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 11,613
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 11,613 |
I need the meaning of "mutual dependency" along with the function of the title. Symbiotes should cover the first part, I think. If that's not sufficient unto itself, perhaps you could add on the other, as in symbio-emissaries, etc. I favor the simpler word, myself...but then it's not MY book!
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Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 10,542
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 10,542 |
Quote:
I read that thread. And I agree that usinga made-upterm would be easier. But, I am of the Gene Wolfe school of thought. Find an existing or archaic word for a new term and it will sound more natural.
here's a thought: use a term that alludes to Gene Wolfe's New Sun cycle.
Just for example, the term cacogen could be applied to these people, allusive of GW's application to that foreign element that is looked down on by all societies. These 'cacs' would be considered as evil by the worst elements of both worlds.
Perhaps there are other elements of GW's seven groups of society in the world of the New Sun that could be drawn from.
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Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 18
stranger
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OP
stranger
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 18 |
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Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 18
stranger
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OP
stranger
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 18 |
So a dry, strung-out, purly expository definition such as "fornication under the consent of the king"? Then we can come up with a more familiar term.
Interesting. Anyone on the list work in government?
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Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 18
stranger
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OP
stranger
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 18 |
The title is for the position, not necessarily for the book. Although I do agree that the name should be memorable.
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Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 18
stranger
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OP
stranger
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 18 |
The word is "symbiont" and has a good flavor. But, it smacks too much of biology - as if the pair are mutually-dependent on each other for food or good health. Now if they shared a community stomach, that would be dead-on.
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