Wordsmith.org: the magic of words

Wordsmith Talk

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

Previous Thread
Next Thread
Print Thread
#199178 04/16/2011 1:24 AM
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 10,542
Carpal Tunnel
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 10,542
I mentioned elsewhen that I have a whole bunch of dictionaries I refer to when researching words. just as a for instance, from Eugene Ehrlich's The Highly Selective Dictionary for the Extraordinarily Literate comes this:

Do not confuse quash with squash. Uprisings and indictments are quashed; hats and ripe grapes are squashed. But see squelch, which in one of its meanings is synonymous with quash.

this book is a wonderful resource for the not to be confused with theme.

tsuwm #199181 04/16/2011 5:24 AM
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 5,295
Carpal Tunnel
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 5,295
As quash appears to come from quassre, to shatter) of cassre, from Latin cassus it should be possible to quash a squash or grapes for that matter, though more usually they get squashed.

squelch-quashed, but no quelch-squashed, although in one of its meanings squelch is synonymous to quench , which is quelch but for one letter difference. grin


Last edited by BranShea; 04/16/2011 7:14 PM.
tsuwm #199188 04/16/2011 7:16 PM
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 5,295
Carpal Tunnel
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 5,295
The confusing thing is I knew the word 'squash'. I did not know the word 'quash'. So now I can go confuse them. frown smile

Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 1,706
Pooh-Bah
Pooh-Bah
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 1,706
Oh nooooo Bran laugh

A squash is also a type of vegetable, some places its called marrow (but I think you knew that).

Which would you use to stomp out rumour?

squash a rumour or quash a rumour?

Candy #199204 04/17/2011 8:25 AM
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 963
old hand
old hand
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 963
Oxford and American Heritage don't seem to want to let me choose quash here, so I'll go with Merriam-Webster, which does. Maybe.

Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 10,542
Carpal Tunnel
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 10,542
you may have discovered that M-W is more discriptive than the others. in this case. maybe.
-joe (I used to be far more prescriptive till I started coming here) friday

tsuwm #199209 04/17/2011 2:58 PM
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 724
Avy Offline
old hand
old hand
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 724
Non-prescriptive could still mean quiet dislike and silent non-support.

Candy #199229 04/19/2011 5:23 PM
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 5,295
Carpal Tunnel
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 5,295
Which would you use to stomp out rumour?

I think I would neither stomp out nor quash rumour. Isn't rumour something irrational whispered or babbled around? I think it's not in the nature of a rumour to be stomped or quashed. It's like you can't quash ghosts. Or wind.

@tsuwm. Is this one in this special dictionary? mediacracy not to be confused with mediocracy? Just because recently I read this word.

Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 10,542
Carpal Tunnel
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 10,542
mediacracy seems to be one of those UD, slang-type neologisms; i.e., it hain't hardly in any dictionary, yet.

but of course, having said this, I find that it has been in the online OED since 2001:

The (supposed) dominance of the mass media over society through its powerful influence upon government. Also, collectively: dominant or controlling figures in the mass media.

although a (supposed) mediacracy may well also be a mediocracy, you shouldn't be confused if you know the roots are media and mediocre.

#199240 04/20/2011 10:54 AM
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 1,706
Pooh-Bah
Pooh-Bah
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 1,706
HELLO ratram
oh I thought you meant this website (Wordsmith)
but you were talking about lineage blush

Candy #199242 04/20/2011 12:51 PM
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 7,210
Carpal Tunnel
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 7,210
Originally Posted By: Candy
HELLO ratram
oh I thought you meant this website (Wordsmith)
but you were talking about lineage blush


yeah, lineage as it refers to spam... frown


formerly known as etaoin...
#199245 04/20/2011 2:55 PM
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 9,974
Likes: 3
Carpal Tunnel
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 9,974
Likes: 3
glad you enjoy it; begone with your advertising.


----please, draw me a sheep----
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 10,542
Carpal Tunnel
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 10,542
he's been banned at least thrice now; he just seems to keep registering under new names.

tsuwm #199260 04/21/2011 5:28 AM
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 1,706
Pooh-Bah
Pooh-Bah
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 1,706
you could say he has been quashed smirk

Candy #199272 04/21/2011 3:01 PM
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 9,974
Likes: 3
Carpal Tunnel
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 9,974
Likes: 3
I, for one, notified "contact" to have him eliminated.


----please, draw me a sheep----
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 2,154
Zed Offline
Pooh-Bah
Pooh-Bah
Offline
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 2,154
Originally Posted By: LukeJavan8
I, for one, notified "contact" to have him eliminated.


Ooh, Luke has scary contacts! wink

Zed #199362 04/24/2011 8:54 PM
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 9,974
Likes: 3
Carpal Tunnel
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 9,974
Likes: 3
It's those black submachine guns that gave me away, right?


Only doing what has been suggested here on the site.

Last edited by LukeJavan8; 04/24/2011 8:54 PM.

----please, draw me a sheep----
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 1,706
Pooh-Bah
Pooh-Bah
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 1,706
I should have done it mad

Candy #199373 04/25/2011 2:51 AM
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 10,542
Carpal Tunnel
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 10,542
Originally Posted By: Candy
I should have done it mad


well, I done did it!

From: Anu Garg
"I've deleted the user and the spam. Thanks for the alert, Michael!"

Zed #199389 04/25/2011 2:56 PM
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 9,974
Likes: 3
Carpal Tunnel
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 9,974
Likes: 3
Originally Posted By: Zed
Originally Posted By: LukeJavan8
I, for one, notified "contact" to have him eliminated.


Ooh, Luke has scary contacts! wink


Anu was pleased with the notification.


----please, draw me a sheep----
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 2,154
Zed Offline
Pooh-Bah
Pooh-Bah
Offline
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 2,154
It sounded like you planned to call on Tony Soprano.

Zed #199401 04/25/2011 9:05 PM
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 9,974
Likes: 3
Carpal Tunnel
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 9,974
Likes: 3
Or maybe Mr. Corleone??


----please, draw me a sheep----
tsuwm #199405 04/25/2011 9:50 PM
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 963
old hand
old hand
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 963
Guido. I always call Guido.

Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 9,974
Likes: 3
Carpal Tunnel
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 9,974
Likes: 3
I did not know he was still in business.


----please, draw me a sheep----
tsuwm #199418 04/26/2011 5:34 AM
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 2,154
Zed Offline
Pooh-Bah
Pooh-Bah
Offline
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 2,154
Or you would have called him instead of Anu?

Zed #199424 04/26/2011 10:26 AM
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 963
old hand
old hand
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 963
He doesn't have Anu's sophistication and finesse, but he's dependable. And dogged.

tsuwm #199452 04/27/2011 3:24 AM
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 2,154
Zed Offline
Pooh-Bah
Pooh-Bah
Offline
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 2,154
and they stay eliminated. Ha

Zed #199457 04/27/2011 3:35 PM
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 9,974
Likes: 3
Carpal Tunnel
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 9,974
Likes: 3
Sort of like being voted off an island or some such, in a
modern reality show.


----please, draw me a sheep----

Moderated by  Jackie 

Link Copied to Clipboard
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

© 1994-2025 Wordsmith

Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 8.0.0