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Carpal Tunnel
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OP
Carpal Tunnel
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On a CNN broadcast today, concerning the impact of the most recent hurricane to batter Florida, the male anchor said that he was "efforting" to reach a person by telephone. God save us all.
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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no prescrip here, but that's just yucky.
formerly known as etaoin...
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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Actually, effort is a verb in the OED, but it means to strengthen or fortify.
The verb that "accompanies" effort is efforce, according to the OED, and means to force oneself or to make an effort.
I had not known either of these.
Too bad I had to learn them from such an ugly verbification.
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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"He efforted his spirits with remembrance ... of what formally he had been."
Thomas Fuller. 1662. Worthies. (Secundum OED1.)
Of course, it sounds strange, is marked as obsolete, and is the only citation for effort qua verb. La!
Ceci n'est pas un seing.
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Pooh-Bah
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Pooh-Bah
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That is, "he fortified himself . . . " yes? which wouldn't pinch hit for "make an effort" in the newscaster's strained utterance.
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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The meaning has changed since the 17th century.
Ceci n'est pas un seing.
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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Quote:
On a CNN broadcast today, concerning the impact of the most recent hurricane to batter Florida, the male anchor said that he was "efforting" to reach a person by telephone. God save us all.
Are you imploring the Deity's protection of us from hurricanes or from those with a tin ear for the English language?
Bingley
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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Are you imploring the Deity's protection of us from hurricanes or from those with a tin ear for the English language?
Hurricanes inhere in the nature of the planet. There is no controlling much less correcting them. Ignorance, on the other hand, is vincible (in most cases) and deserves an effort at correction. Bottom line: I wrote a letter to CNN.
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Pooh-Bah
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Pooh-Bah
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Quote:
The meaning has changed since the 17th century.
Given that there is only one recorded occurrence prior to the anchor man's (may be sink with with his title), I'd say that was not just a change, but a quantum leap. No, a lousy coinage is a lousy coinage is a lousy coinage.
Last edited by inselpeter; 10/27/05 08:57 AM.
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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Relax people. In a couple years it'll sound as normal as "contacting."
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