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Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 65
journeyman
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OP
journeyman
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 65 |
I have this quiz that requires either an in-depth knowledge of the English language OR a great internet surfer which I'm not! Anyway, here's the definition of the word I'm searching for :
someone who always obeys the rules of his/her job exactly, even when it would be more sensible not to, is called a ________ (9 letters)
Can anyone help me? Thanks!
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Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803 |
(9 letters)
Got any of them?
And what are the cross words?
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Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858 |
Dear JessCC: a tactic that sometimes ;helps me is to make a list of the near-misses: conformist bootlicker toadie yes man sycophant
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Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 10,542
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 10,542 |
I was sure that he was gonna be myrmidon, but I just recounted and he's only got eight (8) letters.
:)
but as long as we're wandering off on the brown-nose tangent, here are a couple of really archaic words: pickthank, toadeater
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Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 5,400
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 5,400 |
in a union, its called "work to rules"-- which is too many letters.. its also called "by the book"... hey that's 9 letters...it means to work by rule book..
unions work to rules or by the book to effect work slow downs.
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Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 1,526
veteran
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veteran
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 1,526 |
Formalist, although I prefer to use 'pedant.'
k
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Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 3,146
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 3,146 |
here are a couple of really archaic words: pickthank, toadeaterWell, thank you Michael! I've been using "toadeater" ever since I read it in a Regency-period book yonks ago, and no one is ever in any doubt about precisely what it means ...
The idiot also known as Capfka ...
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Joined: Aug 2001
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 10,588 Likes: 1 |
obeys the rules exactly, even when it would be more sensible not to
"Bureaucrat," unfortunately, has ten letters; I like it otherwise.
Are you sure this isn't one of those "How do you keep a turkey" (or other unflattering designation) "in suspense?" questions?
Edit: How about "automaton"? That'll do nicely. But it needs to have an (n) in the question: "...is called a(n) _____________"
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Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 6,296
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 6,296 |
Gosh, I thought Wolfaholic had it, but after checking MW, I dunno...not specific enough. Here 'tis:
Main Entry: au·tom·a·ton Pronunciation: o-'tä-m&-t&n, -m&-"tän Function: noun Inflected Form(s): plural -atons or au·tom·a·ta /-m&-t&, -m&-"tä/ Etymology: Latin, from Greek, neuter of automatos Date: 1645 1 : a mechanism that is relatively self-operating; especially : ROBOT 2 : a machine or control mechanism designed to follow automatically a predetermined sequence of operations or respond to encoded instructions 3 : an individual who acts in a mechanical fashion
Befuddled regards, WordWebster's
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Joined: Aug 2001
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 10,588 Likes: 1 |
Agreed, it's not perfect in denotation, but does come pretty close in connotation.
At least we're gettng warmer :-)
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