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What does this quote mean? #213859
01/07/14 04:10 PM 01/07/14 04:10 PMJoined: Oct 2013
Posts: 12 momi1234OP
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I dreamt that my hair was kempt. Then I dreamt that my true love unkempt it
Re: What does this quote mean? [Re: momi1234] #213863
01/07/14 05:06 PM 01/07/14 05:06 PMJoined: Apr 2000
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this too shall pass tsuwm![]()
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this too shall pass kempt :: neat, tidy (combed)
it looks to me as though kempt is actually an old word that went obsolete or unused for several hundred years, and then was recovered via back-formation from unkempt.
Re: What does this quote mean? [Re: momi1234] #213866
01/07/14 06:56 PM 01/07/14 06:56 PMJoined: Dec 2000
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FWIW, the kempt part seems to come from an Old English verb meaning 'to comb'. Not to mention humorously reviving the obsolete word kempt.
Re: What does this quote mean? [Re: momi1234] #213873
01/08/14 10:53 AM 01/08/14 10:53 AMJoined: Oct 2013
Posts: 12 momi1234OP
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So it means, "this is what happened in my dream. My hair was in order but my sweetheart disorganized it.?"
What does it want to say?
Re: What does this quote mean? [Re: momi1234] #213874
01/08/14 11:19 AM 01/08/14 11:19 AMJoined: Apr 2000
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this too shall pass tsuwm![]()
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this too shall pass what does it 'want' to say? it seems to say what it says about lovers mussing each other's hair..
it could also be euphemistic, I can't tell what the dream(s) have to do with it without seeing this 'quote' in context; it could mean that the dreamer was dreaming of being ravished by their lover.
using a rare 'opposite' of unkempt makes me think this author wasn't being very serious; see Quinion and How I met my wife.
edit: I assume that this is the source of your quote:
This is my dream,
It is my own dream,
I dreamt it.
I dreamt that my hair was kempt.
Then I dreamt that my true love unkempt it.
-Ogden Nash
Ogden Nash was well known for his humorous poetry.
Last edited by tsuwm; 01/08/14 12:18 PM.
Re: What does this quote mean? [Re: momi1234] #213877
01/08/14 12:57 PM 01/08/14 12:57 PMJoined: Oct 2013
Posts: 12 momi1234OP
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So my literal interpretation was correct and it's just that?
Re: What does this quote mean? [Re: momi1234] #213878
01/08/14 01:11 PM 01/08/14 01:11 PMJoined: Apr 2000
Posts: 10,538
this too shall pass tsuwm![]()
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this too shall pass to quote someone, it is what it is. : grin :
Re: What does this quote mean? [Re: momi1234] #213879
01/08/14 01:12 PM 01/08/14 01:12 PMJoined: Dec 2000
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Plus the play on kempt meaning 'combed'.
Re: What does this quote mean? [Re: momi1234] #223680
02/29/16 10:39 AM 02/29/16 10:39 AMJoined: Feb 2016
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It doesn't just refer to hair though does it. It almost means scruffy, i.e he's very unkempt, he looks like a hobo. Not cared for?
I think this detailed jes extender guide is helpful.
Re: What does this quote mean? [Re: Beatrix] #223684
02/29/16 04:25 PM 02/29/16 04:25 PMJoined: Jun 2008
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Land of the Flat Water Welcome
----please, draw me a sheep----
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