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Previous Thread Next Thread Print Thread Phlyarologist #210750 05/05/2013 10:08 AM Joined: May 2013 Posts: 5 Cambridge, England pendant stranger pendant stranger Joined: May 2013 Posts: 5 Cambridge, England Hello world I would be very interested in your view of my understanding of the word 'phlyarologist'. Everywhere I've looked, the word is defined as 'one who speaks nonsense': however, I disagree, and I would be very interested in thoughts on the matter. Apologies if this seems like a thinly disguised attempt to funnel traffic to my blog; but it saves me a lot of typoing or cut-and-pasting if I just offer a link: A definition of 'phlyarologist' on the blog 'Wibble' Thank you for your consideration. Pendant, n. One who, by correcting others, gives himself (or herself) just enough rope by which to hang. Copy Link to Clipboard Re: Phlyarologist pendant #210752 05/05/2013 12:06 PM Joined: Dec 2000 Posts: 13,803 Faldage Carpal Tunnel Faldage Carpal Tunnel Joined: Dec 2000 Posts: 13,803 Nothing like using a word no one will understand and will give up on looking up and when you explain to your poor victim will immediately classify you as a prime example. Copy Link to Clipboard Re: Phlyarologist pendant #210761 05/05/2013 4:23 PM Joined: Apr 2000 Posts: 10,542 this too shall pass tsuwm Carpal Tunnel tsuwm Carpal Tunnel Joined: Apr 2000 Posts: 10,542 this too shall pass well, FWIW, it is in OED online: Etymology: < ancient Greek ϕλύαρος [phlyaros?] silly talk, nonsense (probably < ϕλύειν to boil over, to babble Obs. nonce-wd. [i.e., it was coined for the instance and never used again, until the 'net discovered it - 2650 gh] A person who talks nonsense. 1867 Athenæum 12 Oct. 459/1, I would not meddle with such a phlyarologist. Copy Link to Clipboard Re: Phlyarologist tsuwm #210762 05/05/2013 4:36 PM Joined: Apr 2000 Posts: 10,542 this too shall pass tsuwm Carpal Tunnel tsuwm Carpal Tunnel Joined: Apr 2000 Posts: 10,542 this too shall pass here's a bit of context for the quote: twinkle twinkle (see point 2) Copy Link to Clipboard Re: Phlyarologist pendant #210773 05/06/2013 7:49 AM Joined: Jun 2006 Posts: 5,295 Netherlands, the Hague BranShea Carpal Tunnel BranShea Carpal Tunnel Joined: Jun 2006 Posts: 5,295 Netherlands, the Hague It sounds as cheerful as what it means. I would not mind meddling with such a person. Copy Link to Clipboard Re: Phlyarologist pendant #210775 05/06/2013 9:34 AM Joined: May 2013 Posts: 5 Cambridge, England pendant stranger pendant stranger Joined: May 2013 Posts: 5 Cambridge, England Thank you for the responses. I wasn't aware that the OED already defines the word. Would you have any advice about how to go about disputing the definition? Thoughts on my argument -- preferably here, since this would seem to be an appropriate forum -- would be gratefully appreciated. Last edited by pendant; 05/06/2013 9:45 AM. Reason: clarification Pendant, n. One who, by correcting others, gives himself (or herself) just enough rope by which to hang. Copy Link to Clipboard Re: Phlyarologist pendant #210778 05/06/2013 10:34 AM Joined: Dec 2000 Posts: 13,803 Faldage Carpal Tunnel Faldage Carpal Tunnel Joined: Dec 2000 Posts: 13,803 I would suggest that the correct way to dispute the standard definition would be to concede that you are wrong and get on with your life. However, if you insist on continuing with your mistaken idea you might try using it a lot in the way you think to be correct and hope that the fact that not one person in a thousand is going to know enough to contradict you will lead the rest of us poor fools to accept and use your definition. Copy Link to Clipboard Re: Phlyarologist pendant #210798 05/06/2013 3:20 PM Joined: Jun 2006 Posts: 5,295 Netherlands, the Hague BranShea Carpal Tunnel BranShea Carpal Tunnel Joined: Jun 2006 Posts: 5,295 Netherlands, the Hague My favorite oldtimer phlyarologist is Lewis Carroll of whom I quote the last couplet of the poem 'The Mad Garderner's Song" Caroll "He thought he saw an Argument That proved he was the Pope: He looked again, and found it was A Bar of Mottled Soap. 'A fact so dread,' he faintly said, 'Extinguishes all hope!" (imo there is not much to dispute, but a lot through that word to enjoy. I adopt the word whatever it's definition) Copy Link to Clipboard Moderated by  Jackie  Hop To General Topics ------  Information and announcements  Q&A about words  Wordplay and fun  Words and languages in schools  Miscellany  Weekly Themes  Looking for (writers, speakers,... (Old) Weekly themes. 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