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Posted By: wwh proneur - 02/10/04 09:42 PM
proneur
Another spellingbee word. = flatterer

Posted By: maahey Re: proneur - 02/17/04 07:33 PM
Bill, is this related to pronate?
I must be the only person on the planet who doesn't know this....but do the children who compete know the meanings of all the words or are they fleshing out the spelling from the pronunciation. On a recent flight they were screening the documentary on one of the channels; watched for a couple of minutes and moved on.

Posted By: Faldage Re: proneur - 02/17/04 07:43 PM
The one I've seen the contestants get to ask the meaning, the derivation, the pronunciation (even though they've heard it just getting the word), about anything but the spelling. One little girl would spend about five minutes or more per word asking these things over and over.

Posted By: wwh Re: proneur - 02/17/04 07:57 PM
Dear maahey: this is one of those accursed spellingbee words.I finally found it in a French sci-fi story, could not get translation. I regret having posted it.

Posted By: maahey Re: proneur - 02/19/04 05:40 PM
Thanks Fald! (breathing sigh of releief -e) Bill, I went looking today for the roots of afferent/efferent. The root word is ferre - to bring. Couldn't think of an english word with the same root? Thought ferry and freight but was wrong both times. Do you/anyone know of any?
PS: i liked proneur

Posted By: wwh Re: proneur - 02/19/04 08:02 PM
Dear maahey: I searched for "flatterer proneur" and go this:
#935. Flatterer. -- N. flatterer, adulator; eulogist, euphemist; optimist, encomiast, laudator[Lat], whitewasher.

toady, toadeater[obs3]; sycophant, courtier, Sir Pertinax MacSycophant; flaneur[Fr], proneur[Fr]; puffer, touter[obs3], claqueur[Fr]; clawback[obs3], earwig, doer of dirty work; parasite, hanger-on &c. (servility) 886.

yes-man, suckup, ass-kisser [vulgar], brown-noser [vulgar], teacher's pet.

Phr. pessimum genus inimicorum laudantes [Lat][Tacitus].

I haven't had much luck with etymology of French words,
I get beyond my depth quicly.

Posted By: Bingley Re: proneur - 02/20/04 05:00 AM
refer, defer, proffer, offer, infer, suffer, differ

Bingley
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