#57673
02/18/2002 11:58 PM
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From BBC Sci/Tech
I've not seen this word used this way before. I do not think it a good choice.
"Dr Sereno, from the University of Chicago, told
the meeting that science was on the cusp of a
new era in dinosaur discovery. He said Africa,
in particular, would soon yield extraordinary...."
specimens that would enable scientists to
explain more fully how these great beasts
evolved.
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#57674
02/19/2002 12:15 AM
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on the cusp of a new era
It comes from the Latin cuspis, a point, spear. OED gives as the first definition (which I suspect means the oldest; the citation they give for that definition is the oldest at 1585) the beginning or entrance of a 'house', where 'house' refers to an astrological house. Your usage is obviously a generalization of this definition.
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#57675
02/19/2002 12:24 AM
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Really Bill, I must admit that it is the only way I have ever heard it or seen it written.
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#57676
02/19/2002 12:47 AM
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I had extra cusps on my molars. But what is the cusp of an era? Draw me a diagram.
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#57677
02/19/2002 1:40 AM
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I'll try Bill, but I know I am not as glib as most in explaining words.
A cusp as I know it is the very most tip of a thing. So behind you, you've got everything you know about dinosaures and it seems that you have reached the top of your knowledge when you look down and there is a whole new road, stretching down as far as the eye can see.
Oh and they'd call it a cusp because the knowledge is not in the same old direction but a completely new direction.
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#57678
02/19/2002 3:03 AM
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According to the Australian Macquarie dictionary:
cusp
// noun
1. a point; pointed end.
2. Anatomy, Zoology, Botany a point, projection or elevation, as on the crown of a tooth.
3. Mathematics a point where two parts of a curve touch and end.
4. Architecture, etc. a point or figure formed by the intersection of two small arcs or curved members, such as one of the pointed projections sometimes decorating the internal curve of an arch or a traceried window.
5. Astrology the transitional first or last part of a sign or house when the new sign is gaining ascendancy, but the influence of the old one persists: to be born on the cusp. [Latin: point]
It appears that the term has quite a scientific background, but that it is being used in a slightly colloquial sense. The quote you've provided appears to be using cusp in the Astrological sense ie. akin to the word "verge" whereas the general use of the noun cusp would mean the apex or point. The context in the quote doesn't indicate being at a "point" ... yet ...
Anyone else?
Hev
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#57679
02/19/2002 6:04 AM
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the dental usage is one of the latest transferrals. the astrological is the earliest use.
I'll just throw out some citations that may serve to illustrate the... er... point.
Astrol The Cusp or very entrance of any house, or first beginning. (1647)
In this figure Capricorn is upon the cuspe of the ascendent. (1651)
general And mid the loftiest [mountains] we could well discern One that was shining in a cusp of snow. (1847)
Astron About the middle of the eclipse, the air was very clear, and the cusps well defined. (1764)
Arch In all the concave bends of the stone-work, a small pointed ornament occurs, which is very common in Gothic windows+I have ventured to apply to it [the name] of cusp, by which mathematicians denote a figure of this sort. (1813)
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#57680
02/19/2002 10:50 AM
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I'm in 100% agreement with bel's usage point above, and also, like she, have essentially never heard it used any other way.
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#57681
02/19/2002 11:10 AM
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Or:
I was the cusp of this answer.
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#57682
02/19/2002 12:28 PM
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enthusiast
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It would depend how they're expecting discoveries to appear. If one big burst from now on, a peak, followed by a quieter time as they analyse them, then it is indeed a cusp; but if they're expecting the pace of discovery to increase, then a better word would be verge or entrance.
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#57683
02/19/2002 12:58 PM
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Dear whh,
I, too, have an extra cusp on one of my molars--it really has a lovely name that I've completely forgotten--but my dentist would know.
It sounds something like "The Cusp of Caglieri..."--but that's not it.
I've heard/read "cusp" used from time to time over the years. I really like the word a lot--is has "cups" in it--and cupping is always nice to think about--and "sup" somehow, too--and "cus" like "you ol' cuss!...which is kind of friendly--and "us"...which is nice, too, and inclusive--and "spuc" is there Spucker up!, which isn't a word 'less tsuwm knows better, but spuc seems to be a pretty nice sound.
Bicuspid regards,
WordWaker
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#57684
02/19/2002 1:26 PM
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spuc seems to be a pretty nice sound.
Ah! Let us rejoice in our diversity.
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#57685
02/19/2002 1:45 PM
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but spuc seems to be a pretty nice sound.
In Ireland SPUC is an acronym for the Society for the Protection of the Unborn Child. Their members are pretty militant and nasty and, with an imminent (March) referendum on abortion, they are far from popular.
So, sorry. Spuc means only one thing to me and it ain't that nice!!
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#57686
02/19/2002 2:30 PM
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I think NicholasW has the best answer. The quote does seem to mean that this could be the beginning of a new era, and so "on the verge" would have been a better expression.
And from tsuwm's mention of its being an astrological term, I think it a bit naughty of a scientist to use it. I despise astrology.
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#57687
02/19/2002 3:03 PM
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#57688
02/19/2002 4:13 PM
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Thanks, Faldage! Your link asks you to you to See Also: http://dinosaur.uchicago.edu, in which some may find the "discoveries" and "expeditions" sections especially interesting.
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