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Posted By: pieman avuncular - 05/01/00 02:12 PM
If avuncular means of or like an uncle, is there a word which means of or like an aunt?


Posted By: tsuwm Re: avuncular - 05/01/00 02:33 PM
perhaps materteral

from L matertera, maternal aunt


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Posted By: pieman Re: avuncular - 05/14/00 04:14 AM
Yes, perhaps, that works, but I don't think "materteral" is an actual word. It is not in any of the dictionaries I've looked in. And "materteral" seems like it would only apply to a maternal aunt. I like it, it's a good try. But is there an "official" word that means "of or like an aunt"?

Posted By: David108 Re: avuncular - 05/14/00 06:43 PM
Webster's Collegiate dictionary shows "avuncular" as originating from the Latin for maternal uncle, so I'll agree with tswum. But the pronounciation of materteral is a little daunting to consider the word for everyday use ;o)

see: http://www.m-w.com/cgi-bin/dictionary?avuncular

Posted By: tsuwm Re: avuncular - 05/14/00 06:48 PM
...and I'd bet, dollars to donuts, that materteral is in the OED -- I must have confirmed it somewhere!
[would that be "official" enough?] <g>

whoa! speaking of Merriam-Webster, check this out!
http://www.m-w.com/wftw/99mar/030599.htm

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Posted By: paulb Re: materteral - 05/15/00 11:25 AM
I don't run to the OED (in either sense of the word!), tsuwm, but 'materteral' isn't listed in my Shorter Oxford.

Posted By: pieman Re: materteral - 05/15/00 05:56 PM
I've got Volume IX of the OED sitting on my lap as I write this.

Yes, "materteral - adj - characteristic of an aunt" is in here.

From Latin matertera, maternal aunt.

In the same entry it lists "materterine -adj" as meaning the same thing..

Now I suggest we start a new discussion about the phrase "dollars to donuts/doughnuts". (I'd never heard that one before.)

pieman

Posted By: tsuwm Re: materteral - 05/15/00 06:12 PM
"... but 'materteral' isn't listed in my Shorter Oxford. "

it would seem that the key word here is 'shorter'.
8-)

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Posted By: paulb Re: materteral - 05/16/00 12:16 PM
I agree, tsuwm, but when I retired my work colleagues could only afford a set of the 2-volume New Shorter Oxford which, with the help of my new friends in this wordlovers' community, I am now becoming much more familiar. Thanks to you all!

Posted By: shanks Now there's a redundancy...? - 05/16/00 01:14 PM
"work colleagues"?

Are there any other types of colleagues?

(Sorry, couldn't help myself.)

cheer

the sunshine warrior

Posted By: paulb Re: Now there's a redundancy...? - 05/17/00 11:54 AM
Thank you, shanks! I was using the term to differentiate my 'work' colleagues from my 'film society' colleagues, and hadn't realised it was a tautology. But my trusty Shorter Oxford confirms your comment. It's never to late to learn. Cheers to my 'word-a-day' colleagues. [grin]

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