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Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 14
stranger
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OP
stranger
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 14 |
A current favourite phrase at work is "quarter-wit" (for the times when half-wit seems to be a compliment)
A fairly limited category perhaps, but are there any other valid "re-sized" words?
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Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 1,289
veteran
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veteran
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 1,289 |
Along the same line, my father used to say, "If you said that [name] was a wit, you'd be half right."
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Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 10,542
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 10,542 |
and, crossthreading to quavers, you might encounter the hemisemidemiwit -- who might be indistinguishable (without aid of a witometer) from a wittol.
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Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858 |
Wittol: wwftd. I could not find out if the word was derived from name of character in Congreve play, or if Congreve named the character from a pre-existing word.
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Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858 |
I have noticed that lately the Spam I receive has changed from porn to physiologic enhancement products for both sexes. Upsizing, not downsizing.
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Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 10,542
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 10,542 |
we should check OED, but W3 traces it from ME wetewold as in cokewold (cuckold).
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Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 3,439
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Nov 2000
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Goatboy asks an interesting question and could we please get back to it ? Welcome Goatboy...Don't give up, we tend to go off on tangents but eventually an answer emerges, even if it takes a year and a day. Right Max?
I hope for elucidation on downsized words as I haven't a witter!
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Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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Dear wow: the reason goatboy's question did not get answered is that none of us know any such words. To tease you a bit,I double dare you to post some.
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Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803 |
Double dare.
What do y'all take this phrase to mean?
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Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858 |
Double dare: since my second childhood is close at hand, I am reverting to childish challenges.
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