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stranger
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stranger
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Hello! I've been arguing with a friend for a week now about whether or not there is an acceptable adjectival form of the word "integrity" that uses the same root. (For example, he insists that "integritous" is a word.) I've done quite a bit of research, but I haven't found anything particularly relevant. Can anyone help?!
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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I'd say that context would determine what kind of adjective you might want for integrity. As an off-the-top-of-my-head definition, let's say integrity is a state of unity in which elements share a common denominator. Say architecture in Colonial Williamsburg here in Virginia. The restoration project includes preserving the integrity of the area as much as possible.
We could say that the well-integrated architecture of Colonial Williamsonburg serves as a fine example of successful restoration. I think I've heard the phrase "well-integrated" functioning as an adjective a lot.
Now when we speak of a person's possessing integrity, that's something a bit different. I don't think I've ever heard the phrase "well-integrated" applied to a person. Perhaps to a person's work, but not to a person possessing integrity.
Anyway, it'll be interesting to read whatever the rest of the word hounds write here.
Best regards,
WW
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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Hi Lori, and welcome the the madhouse.
Good question, too. Can you give us a f'rinstance of the context in which you're thinking of using adjectival integrity?
The idiot also known as Capfka ...
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old hand
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old hand
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For describing someone with personal integrity, adjectives such as loyal, trustworthy, incorruptible come to mind
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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Here is a usage from UK:
"1999 UK legal opinion here, and
scandalous lack of integritous government outlined here?)"
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Carpal Tunnel
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I just checked the dictionary listing in OneLook.com and there were no entries for "integritous."
I don't have access to the OED. Maybe tsuwm can check it. I'll be surprised if integritous is a listing, but you never know...
As far as finding an adjective that has some root form of integrity that you asked about, well-integrated is the only form I can think of.
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Carpal Tunnel
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before I look up integritous, let me just opine that it's just hokey enough to have been used in C. 17 or 18 -- you know, one of those inkhorn terms. :)
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well, the inkhorners seem to have gone in a slightly different direction:
integrious [a.] - Obs. rare. Marked by integrity. Hence †in"tegriously adv.
1658 Sir H. Slingsby Diary (1836) 201 Such was their integrious candor and intimacy to me in my greatest extremes. Ibid. 208 Being so integriously grounded, as it admitted no alloy or mixture with By-respects or self-interests.
integritive [a.] - Obs. rare. Marked by integrity; upright, sincere.
1784 Burns Comm.-pl. Bk. Aug., To maintain an integritive conduct towards our fellow-creatures.
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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I like integritive. I think we should integritively reinstitute it. That would be:
Integritive reinstitution
Let the i's have it!
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old hand
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old hand
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For describing someone with personal integrity, adjectives such as loyal, trustworthy, incorruptible come to mind.
This example clearly demonstrates that adjectives tell us more than fluffy nouns on -ity. Since integrity is a typical "propaganda word", no wonder it has no corresponding adjective.
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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Welcome aBoard, Lori.  I have not heard of integritous; to me it ranks right down there with such forced terms as architecting. However, language does constantly change, doesn't it? I reminded myself just this morning of that fact, when I wrote to a friend about kids liking "burgers and fries". I wonder if the "ham" part of hamburger will vanish for good, in a generation or so. wsieber, I've never thought of adjectives as propaganda! Could you expound a bit?
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