Wordsmith.org: the magic of words

Wordsmith Talk

About Us | What's New | Search | Site Map | Contact Us  

Previous Thread
Next Thread
Print Thread
Page 4 of 11 1 2 3 4 5 6 10 11
#158850 04/27/06 03:49 PM
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 10,542
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 10,542
Aramis, if this is a serious question (I can't tell), the etymology for workaholic is [f. WORK n., after alcoholic.]

the phrase "after ~" is used lexicographically to indicate that the word was not formed following "classical" rules, but instead parrots the form of some other word.

there are many examples of this is English.

#158851 04/27/06 04:09 PM
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 11,613
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 11,613
It still weirds me out to see that little tilde-lookin' thing, but at least now I can usually figure out what it's referring to.
But what does a rebours mean?

Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 2,379
I
Pooh-Bah
Offline
Pooh-Bah
I
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 2,379
Oh, I think I used it here, a few years ago. But this is an interesting discussion. No more quips from me.

Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 11,613
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 11,613
Ah ha; I found two book listings: Against the Grain (A Rebours) and Against Nature : A Rebours, so I'll take it that it means going against something that's been stated.

#158854 04/28/06 12:32 PM
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 456
addict
Offline
addict
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 456
Is it not? Perhaps suggesting a recovering one? It just seems the offerings to justify such fatuous terms as "shopaholic" are a collection of other wrong things. And anything like 'workic' would not be suitable to those enamored of their own voices, like acronym babblers who are compelled to spout appalling things like "UPC code". Why not 'work addict', (but NOT 'workheroinaddict')?


ÅΓª╥┐↕§
#158855 04/28/06 12:54 PM
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 456
addict
Offline
addict
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 456
Not so much a serious question as a cynical misanthropic diatribe. Such fatuous, knee-jerk constructions appear to be a quest for syllables to suit the long-winded. They run in a similar pack with 'orientate' and 'irregardless', for spouters of blather geysers that cannot be content to speak any short term such as ATM or PIN.


ÅΓª╥┐↕§
#158856 04/28/06 12:59 PM
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 7,210
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 7,210
> spouters of blather geysers

isn't that redundant?


formerly known as etaoin...
#158857 04/28/06 09:30 PM
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803
Quote:

Not so much a serious question as a cynical misanthropic diatribe. Such fatuous, knee-jerk constructions appear to be a quest for syllables to suit the long-winded. They run in a similar pack with 'orientate' and 'irregardless', for spouters of blather geysers that cannot be content to speak any short term such as ATM or PIN.




PIN can be ambiguous so the redundancy inherent in PIN number can aid communication.

You can say what you want about orientate but the fact remains that orient is a verbed noun and orientate isn't.

Last edited by Faldage; 04/28/06 09:31 PM.
#158858 04/30/06 07:39 AM
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 140
member
Offline
member
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 140
… one shouldn't say the alcohol.

Why not? Personally, I just drink it. And frequently.
But seriously, folks, 'member me? I just dropped in for another look-see, and found that my last posting had been almost four years ago--and a bit dramatic it was, as I recall. But things have obviously changed here, and I will now keep looking in--and maybe contributing. This has been prompted by my receiving a lovely email from Jacqui (a.k.a. Jackie, the well known Carpal Tunnel. Yes, Jackie, I will indeed respond soon. Good to see so many of the old names still here and going strong. Not sure about the formatting of all this stuff--it's different now. Let's hope it's OK. Sorry about the excessive space I've used up for no particular reason, but it's good to be back again.

How do I put a signature here? Good grief!

:cool lusy

#158859 04/30/06 07:41 AM
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 140
member
Offline
member
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 140
Boy, I stuffed that up, didn't I? I'll do better next time

Page 4 of 11 1 2 3 4 5 6 10 11

Moderated by  Jackie 

Link Copied to Clipboard
Forum Statistics
Forums16
Topics13,912
Posts229,283
Members9,179
Most Online3,341
Dec 9th, 2011
Newest Members
TRIALNERRA, befuddledmind, KILL_YOUR_SUV, Heather_Turey, Standy
9,179 Registered Users
Who's Online Now
0 members (), 435 guests, and 3 robots.
Key: Admin, Global Mod, Mod
Top Posters(30 Days)
Top Posters
wwh 13,858
Faldage 13,803
Jackie 11,613
tsuwm 10,542
wofahulicodoc 10,510
LukeJavan8 9,916
AnnaStrophic 6,511
Wordwind 6,296
of troy 5,400
Disclaimer: Wordsmith.org is not responsible for views expressed on this site. Use of this forum is at your own risk and liability - you agree to hold Wordsmith.org and its associates harmless as a condition of using it.

Home | Today's Word | Yesterday's Word | Subscribe | FAQ | Archives | Search | Feedback
Wordsmith Talk | Wordsmith Chat

© 1994-2024 Wordsmith

Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.5