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#67428 04/27/02 03:56 PM
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old hand
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old hand
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excellent vs excrement

stales


#67429 04/27/02 03:58 PM
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old hand
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old hand
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naturalist vs naturist

stales


#67430 04/27/02 03:59 PM
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old hand
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old hand
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scrip vs script

stales


#67431 04/27/02 04:07 PM
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wwh Offline
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Repetition, forgive please.

ferment vs. foment (a quarrel, for instance)


#67432 04/27/02 11:26 PM
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WHY there was such a difference in meaning between:

He has few ideas.
and
He has a few ideas.


Mm, I can see the problem explaining that difference in an EFL context! My answer fwiw, Bridget, is that the first version naturally stresses the key word FEW whereas the rhythm of the longer second phrase tends to stress the idEAS - thus the first stresses the lexical item of poverty of ideas, whereas the second stresses the possession of ideas.

I like your old habits btw - exchange them for nun others ;)


#67433 04/28/02 04:05 PM
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old hand
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parody vs. parity


#67434 04/28/02 04:39 PM
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gourmet - gourmand


#67435 04/28/02 11:45 PM
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Well, Stales, I didn't know this one. In checking through numerous references, including a listing of the 1828 MW, it turns out that originally these naturists found all meaning in nature--nature was spirit and provider of all. Then it segued into meaning a person who received health benefits from nature. And now, in the latest edition of AHD, at least, there is only one single meaning and that is the single, bare, wind-whipped, sun-glowing figure of the nudist. The old 1828 meaning has disappeared altogether...

Bare regards,
Wordwrapped

PS: Is there any expression "in his altogether" meaning he's nude? Or have I gotten something mixed up?


#67436 04/29/02 12:03 AM
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Two words that seem to confuse people in French are:

Podiatre and Pediatre
(podiatrist and pediatrician)

Because both prefexis Pod and Ped CAN refer to feet.


#67437 04/29/02 12:47 AM
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