#65187
04/11/2002 9:07 PM
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Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 5,400
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 5,400 |
there are some words i know, but never use except in a cliche, or trite phrase..
like sunder which is one of those words that seems to go back to IE, meaning away from, seperate.
i never use the word sunder by its self. it always torn asunder--some might remember we discussed the a prefix, that is often used as an intensifier, some months ago, and we can go off on that tangent if every one wants... (speaking of tangents, sunder is related to the latin sine..)
but i thought we might explore other words, not often used by them selves, but only in common (or not so common!) expressions.
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#65188
04/11/2002 9:32 PM
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Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858 |
About the only use of the word I can think of at the moment is conclusion ofmarriage ceremony:
"What God has joined together let no man put asunder." But I think "sunder" could be a useful, rather formal word, for instance: The Slavery issue threatened to sunder the Union."
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#65189
04/11/2002 9:37 PM
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Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 144
member
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member
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 144 |
'kilter' (also 'kelter')
I found myself using this one today, for the first time in ages. It's a very useful word - but only when used in conjunction with 'out of....'
'Out of kilter' - to put everything off-rhythm and out of timing.
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#65190
04/11/2002 9:46 PM
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Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 5,400
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 5,400 |
lickety.. is it every used with out its partner split?
split has a life of its own, but lickety, is like a parasite, no life at all with out split!
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#65191
04/11/2002 10:00 PM
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Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 3,409
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 3,409 |
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#65192
04/11/2002 10:21 PM
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Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 10,542
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 10,542 |
>What's ruth without less? well, ruth proved very worthful to me in defining ruthful.  (http://home.mn.rr.com/wwftd/)
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#65193
04/11/2002 10:43 PM
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Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 3,409
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 3,409 |
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#65194
04/11/2002 11:04 PM
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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 was surprised to find "ruth" related to "rue" a very old Germanic word for sorrow, etc.
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#65195
04/12/2002 12:08 AM
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Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 1,055
old hand
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old hand
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 1,055 |
> What's ruth without less?
And what would 'buff' be without 'in the'?
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#65196
04/12/2002 12:22 AM
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Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 3,409
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 3,409 |
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#65197
04/12/2002 12:39 AM
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Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 1,055
old hand
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old hand
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 1,055 |
The noun 'buff' alone doesn't make much sense unless you're in it. E.g. 'Caught in the buff' Now you got me looking it up, and as it turns out Quinion has his fair share to say about this one.. http://www.quinion.com/words/topicalwords/tw-buf1.htm
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#65198
04/12/2002 12:43 AM
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Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 3,409
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 3,409 |
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#65199
04/12/2002 1:03 AM
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Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 1,055
old hand
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old hand
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 1,055 |
>I just decided to throw in a low-brow pop-culture reference for the hell of it.
Right - dunno if all us saplings neural development is, like totally warped due to our unprecedented over-exposure to a sheer endless amount of audio-visual media, like. But, if it is, then that might 'splane a lot, a'ight.
As it turns out it led me to the 'buff' article, so thanks - I guess.
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#65200
04/12/2002 2:01 AM
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Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 618
addict
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addict
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 618 |
Buff is also used to mean cut, ripped, muscular or well-defined (which are all the same thing really) but I assume this developed from buff=polish rather than in the buff.
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#65201
04/12/2002 2:42 AM
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Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 320
enthusiast
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enthusiast
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 320 |
nattily attired. Or Natalie Attired, if you remember Bob and Ray.
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#65202
04/12/2002 12:04 PM
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Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 11,613
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 11,613 |
Pankey daren't sneeze, without its hankey...[groan]
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#65203
04/12/2002 1:22 PM
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Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 322
enthusiast
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enthusiast
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 322 |
'Out of kilter' - to put everything off-rhythm and out of timing.
or off-kilter
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#65204
04/12/2002 2:21 PM
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Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 6,296
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 6,296 |
What's helter without skelter?
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#65205
04/12/2002 2:24 PM
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Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 1,773
Pooh-Bah
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Pooh-Bah
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 1,773 |
And what would 'buff' be without 'in the'?
In a small circle, it would be a slip opinion (opinion so recently released that it is not yet in the books, but has been distributed as printed on unbound papers) from the Michigan Court of Appeals. "Buffs" is short for slip opinions of the Court of Appeals, while "blues" refers to slip opinions of the Supreme Court, because of the color of the paper on which the opinions are printed. "Pinks" refers to Court of Appeals opinions which are not designated for publication. This long-standing usage is on its way to obsolescence due to the substitution of electronic distribution of opinions.
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#65206
04/12/2002 2:25 PM
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Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 2,605
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 2,605 |
'Out of kilter'
I always liked Shakespeare's "the time is out of joint".
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#65207
04/12/2002 3:10 PM
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Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 320
enthusiast
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enthusiast
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 320 |
One of the most remarkable, Keiva.
The time is out of joint; O cursed spite,
That ever I was born to set it right!
I've heard that Winston Churchill quoted this couplet when the Battle of Britain got underway. And wasn't it apt?
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#65208
04/12/2002 4:33 PM
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Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 3,467
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 3,467 |
I don't know how common it is, but when I was a firefighter, we referred to people who had an interest in firefighting on the level of a hobby as firefighting buffs.
Interesting. My dictionary says it comes from the buff-colored uniforms once worn by volunteer firefighters in New York.
TEd
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#65209
04/12/2002 5:17 PM
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Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 5,400
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 5,400 |
which can be seen in the 1980's movie "rag time" --
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#65210
04/12/2002 7:01 PM
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Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 32
newbie
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newbie
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 32 |
I've used (and read) "sunder" in the past tense without the initial "a."
Am I the only one?
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#65211
04/12/2002 7:12 PM
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Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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Posts: 13,858 |
The Slavery issue temporarily sundered the Union.
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#65212
04/12/2002 7:16 PM
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Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 688
addict
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addict
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 688 |
Has anyone ever zigged without zagging?
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#65213
04/12/2002 7:21 PM
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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 Angel: ever hear of "zig-zig coucher?
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#65214
04/12/2002 7:36 PM
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Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 688
addict
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addict
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 688 |
Dear Angel: ever hear of "zig-zig coucher?Uhhhhh......Nope? 
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#65215
04/12/2002 9:02 PM
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Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 6,296
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 6,296 |
Ok, Bill. Coucher = to sleep or anglicized coucher = person who sits on his bottom most of the day.
But, knowing you be Bill, I'm guessing coucher = to sleep (literal application for the time being).
Care to expound upon "zig-zig coucher"? Or is this something that I should be looking up on OneLook?
Bed regards,
WordWondering
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#65216
04/12/2002 9:55 PM
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Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 1,819
Pooh-Bah
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Pooh-Bah
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 1,819 |
Dastardly deeds comes to mind. You don't hear "dastardly" much anyway, and almost never without "deed."
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#65217
04/12/2002 10:08 PM
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Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 688
addict
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addict
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 688 |
Dastardly deeds comes to mind. Yup! A dastardly deed does come to mind now that I have more knowledge of a zig-zig coucher.  
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#65218
04/12/2002 10:14 PM
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Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 2,661
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 2,661 |
I always liked the sound of the Dick Dastradly's dog laughing when he got foiled, again. A kinda heavy breath with an underlying wheeze. Was that Penelope Pitstop's arch enemy? Or am I mixing up 'toons?
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#65219
04/12/2002 11:00 PM
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Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 2,636
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 2,636 |
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#65220
04/12/2002 11:09 PM
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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 consuelo: I have seen some cases of hypospadias be shistling dickies. But musick would never approve of the pitch.
And chordee, when present, is not musical.
Come to think of it, wrong thread. This is an incomplete set.
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#65221
04/12/2002 11:22 PM
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Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 2,661
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 2,661 |
My dic. says shist - see schist, and now I'm caught between a rock and a salesman. Ergo "pitch"?
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#65222
04/12/2002 11:58 PM
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Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 5,400
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 5,400 |
rinky dink (i think these words are hopelessly co-dependent. hard to think of any thing rinky, except a dink.. not that i know what a dink is.. )
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#65223
04/13/2002 2:54 AM
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Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 1,289
veteran
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veteran
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 1,289 |
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#65224
04/13/2002 3:25 AM
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Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 275
enthusiast
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enthusiast
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 275 |
rinky dink (i think these words are hopelessly co-dependent. hard to think of any thing rinky, except a dink.. not that i know what a dink is.. )
There is a short train (only 2 cars) that goes from the Princeton U campus to an AMTRAK station in the next town ( a 10-minute ride, I think) that has been lovingly named the "dinky" by the students there.
I clipped an article about it and I am sure there was an explanation for the word dinky in it but I am afraid it will take a month's spring cleaning for me to retrieve that article.
I hope some one comes up with something quicker than that.
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#65225
04/13/2002 12:25 PM
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Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 1,819
Pooh-Bah
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Pooh-Bah
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 1,819 |
Imagine something so cheap and pitiful that it was just "rinky" because the "dink" was broken.
Rinky-dink reminds me of a Black slang term for sexual perversity or promiscuousness: "freaky-deaky." As in, "She might go back to your apartment and get freaky with you, but she isn't freaky-deaky."
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#65226
04/13/2002 1:24 PM
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Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 3,439
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 3,439 |
Natalie Attired, if you remember Bob and Ray.
*Remember them?* Oh, yes, yes. In fact they started in Massachusetts on WLLH radio! (As did Ed McMahon of "Heeeeere's Johnny" fame)
Hilarioso.
Went looking for a link to some of their old routines but no luck, just mentions in other links. Sigh.
Thanks for bringing back a great memory of happy times listening to them on radio and then watching on TV.
Re odd words : "plight thee my troth" ... How many making their marriage vows really know the meanings of plight and troth.
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