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#145300 07/26/05 11:32 PM
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I think you come closest Elizabeth with "seamstressly" - easy to read, though difficult to say. Interesting that "housewifely" uses the adverbial -ly formation. (Are there other examples of adjectival formations that do this? I can think of "likely")

Good Dr Bill suggests via PM using an eponym from a famous couturier(e) but I think that runs into connotations of haute-ness again.

Thanks all - if this board doesn't come up with the perfect word, it don't exist!



#145301 07/28/05 02:56 AM
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if this board doesn't come up with the perfect word, it don't exist!

You flatter us overmuch, johnjohn.

You don't need a name for a seamstress.

You need a name for the stitch she has left you in.



#145302 07/29/05 08:52 AM
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Following a variant of tsuwm's thoughts, I would suggest sempstressy for your consideration, johnjohn - this was brought to mind after coming across the deliberate period-piece of 'sempstress' this week in a novel by Philippa Gregory.

http://machaut.uchicago.edu/cgi-bin/WEBSTER.sh?WORD=sempstressy


#145303 07/29/05 03:19 PM
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Now, why have I heard of her? I don't think I've read anything by her...
Good to see you mav! [hug] Whatcha readin', if you don't mind saying?


#145304 07/29/05 05:04 PM
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Thanks, J :)

She writes excellently characterised historically rooted fiction, sometimes unfairly demeaned by a 'chicklit' label. Her ear for dialoguue is good. Her two novels about Tradescant are wonderful (The Virgin Earth and sumtin else!) and her novels about the court of Henry 8 and the rise to power of his daughters Mary and Elizabeth are superb, imho. The ones I am reading now are a trio set around the times of the Great Enclosures - good background, but a bit too much rippped bodice for my taste.

The bonus to a cracking yarn is that each book has at least one unusual usage that gets me off on a bit of research....!


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