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 2 of 2 1 2
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803
And I allus thunk it were cuz they hung out at the Grey Dog Gym.

Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 2,379
I
Pooh-Bah
Offline
Pooh-Bah
I
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 2,379
who believed virtue to be the only good<<

What does 'virtue' mean in this definition?

Joined: May 2005
Posts: 456
addict
Offline
addict
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 456
Originally Posted By: Jackie

...The meaning "faultfinder" came naturally from the behavior of countless Cynics who in their pursuit of virtue pointed out the flaws in others. Such faultfinding could lead quite naturally to the belief associated with cynics of today that selfishness determines human behavior.



Well, we certainly will not find any of those around here.


ÅΓª╥┐↕§
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 1,529
T
veteran
Offline
veteran
T
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 1,529
Originally Posted By: inselpeter
who believed virtue to be the only good<<

What does 'virtue' mean in this definition?


Say it, inselpeter, what does "virtue" mean in any definition?

I'll tell if you don't.

Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803
Originally Posted By: themilum
what does "virtue" mean in any definition?

I'll tell if you don't.


Do tell. The brick and mortar OED goes on for more than two pages on defintions of "virtue."

Joined: May 2002
Posts: 1,529
T
veteran
Offline
veteran
T
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 1,529
Originally Posted By: Faldage
Originally Posted By: themilum
what does "virtue" mean in any definition?

I'll tell if you don't.


Do tell. The brick and mortar OED goes on for more than two pages on defintions of "virtue."


Need I remind you, Mister Faldage, that the OED merely jots down usage as they run across it, but in the pedestrian world down below "meaning" differs by degrees, with each speaker, and at each spoke.

Not that the OED is a bad thing -- it's not -- but its worth is small potatoes when compared to the "meanings" that can be derived and delimited by the structure and nature of language itself.

If you have ears willing to listen I will talk.

Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803
Ya know, these sound bite definitions have a way of sticking, even when the words used in the definition have shifted away from their older meanings. The Latin word that meant "virtue" could also mean "manliness" or "bravery" as well as "morality.". Rock Island's question is a good one and deserves more than a flippant answer.

Page 2 of 2 1 2

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 (), 302 guests, and 2 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