Flamable and inflamable give each other as meanings. What is the difference between these words. Why doesn't unflamable work as something that isn't flamable? Sorry Im bored.....*ducks the inevitable fireballs*

There's some discussion here, shel:
http://wordsmith.org/board/showflat.pl?Cat=&Board=words&Number=23083
Go halfway down, to shanks' Re: insane/crazy

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inflammable and flammable are still synonyms where I come from. and read from there.

>Sorry Im bored

use of the search function can be good for what ails you -- but note proper spelling of target words. (actually, the whole thread has some entertainment value.)
http://wordsmith.org/board/showthreaded.pl?Cat=&Board=words&Number=103040

Hi Shellb,

Here's a bit of Frenchy info to add to the confusing pile...

In French we say inflammable when it can catch fire

..........and

ininflammable when it can't.

In the second case, the first "in" is pronounced differently than the second "in." The first is pronounced as "een" the second like the "a" in the word "bane".

Mind you in French you also say "tout droit" ( all right) to mean go straight and don't turn off. I assumed it meant stay right and got lost SOOO often before someone straightened me out on that one.
Somewhen we also discussed the fact that the caretaker and the caregiver can be the same person.

Why doesn't unflamable work as something that isn't [in]flamable?

A Paris Hilton wannabe knows the difference between "in" and "un", Shellb.

I missed that thread Zed but I would have thought a caretaker takes care of non-human things (like the lawn, garden, zoo, etc) while a caregiver takes care of humans.

Is that what was dicussed in the thread?

I would have thought a caretaker takes care of non-human things ... while a caregiver takes care of humans.

Interesting observation, belMar.

A "caretaker" takes care in administering to something, whereas a "caregiver" gives care. A subtle difference, but an important one.

Belle marks to belMar.

thanks so much for your valuable input grapho. By the way i wouldn't be at all opposed to being Paris Hilton

By the way i wouldn't be at all opposed to being Paris Hilton

Wanting to trade places with her isn't the same thing as wanting to imitate her by buying her hautepourri or her hautepothesis on life.

Or buying a Burger King meal to get a cardboard tiara for your kid.

Reminds me of a story about Sophia Loren who was in tears over the loss of some diamond jewellery stolen from her hotel room. A friend told her "Sophie, never cry over anything that can't cry over you."

Sophie tells this story on herself.

Now there is a real queen!

This also reminds me of the time I jumped on a full bus. There was one seat left at the back of the bus. It was a plastic seat with a moulded butt cavity which was half-filled with a clear fluid, possibly water but who knows. [It wasn't raining outside.]

I stood up until a seat further up in the bus became available. When I returned to the rear exit to get off at my stop, I noticed that there was an elderly gentleman sitting in the seat with the water in it.

I said "There was water in that seat." He replied without hesitation and with utter seriousness:

"Not any more."

I couldn't stop thinking about that old gentleman's reply. He wasn't being clever with me. This is how he absorbs the insults of everyday life.