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stranger
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OP
stranger
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I saw the word "percerberating" in another on-line forum, and I couldn't even find in in the OED. Is this a word anyone knows?
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Joined: Sep 2001
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Sep 2001
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I checked Onelook.com and there wasn't anything in their over 700+ dictionaries, but wwh uses words here that aren't listed there!
Anyway, more to the point, what was the context? That may give a clue about a possible misspelling or maybe wordplay.
Best regards, WW
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Joined: Jan 2001
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858 |
If it's not in OED, it is probably a mis-spelling of "perseverating". Unless someone made a coinage from "Cerberus": Hellhound of Greek mythology, Cerberus was the three-headed, dragon-tailed dog that stood guard at the opening to the underworld.
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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Did you ask in that forum barnwitch? Now you've tweaked my curiosity.
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stranger
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stranger
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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Dear WO'N: Are you in the right thread? " Some groups practiced the Meidung (shunning and social avoidance), while others showed a more tolerant attitude toward the person who transgressed. ... "
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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bill, you may be on the right track; it's possible that someone was trying to coin a word for the phrase "to give a sop to Cerberus". (that might get a few hits)
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Joined: May 2002
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stranger
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OP
stranger
Joined: May 2002
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Here is the original use. The person is somewhat of a PITA who seems to delight in annoying people. I am convinced she made up the word or is doing a Norm Crosby. I looked in OED and also did a search on the word. Nada.
"Please try to avoid percerberating and provide a cogent response."
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Joined: Sep 2001
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 6,296 |
exacerbating + prevaricating = percerberating (sort of?) exacerbating + persisting = percerberating (sort of?) persisting + exacerbating + berating = percerberating (almost)
Wonder what the pita thought she was spreading her language layers with?
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