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Previous Thread Next Thread Print Thread #213930 - 01/11/14 03:40 PM What does this quote mean?   Joined: Oct 2013 Posts: 12 momi1234 stranger momi1234   stranger Joined: Oct 2013 Posts: 12 OBSOLETE, adj. No longer used by the timid. Said chiefly of words. A word which some lexicographer has marked obsolete is ever thereafter an object of dread and loathing to the fool writer, but if it is a good word and has no exact modern equivalent equally good, it is good enough for the good writer. Indeed, a writer's attitude toward "obsolete" words is as true a measure of his literary ability as anything except the character of his work. A dictionary of obsolete and obsolescent words would not only be singularly rich in strong and sweet parts of speech; it would add large possessions to the vocabulary of every competent writer who might not happen to be a competent reader. What do you think it means? This is from the Devil's dictionary. Especially the last sentence. #213931 - 01/11/14 04:20 PM Re: What does this quote mean? [Re: momi1234]   Joined: Apr 2000 Posts: 10,538 tsuwm Carpal Tunnel tsuwm   Carpal Tunnel Joined: Apr 2000 Posts: 10,538 this too shall pass you must have a predilection for irony. here is a bit of good advice that I found: You should use obsolete or archaic words when: 1 No other word will serve (as in a scholarly piece about history or linguistics, for example). 2 You want to confuse your audience or make them laugh. 3 You want to sound pretentious or pedantic. Note: this is hard advice for me to pass on, as I have an entire web site based on obscure, abstruse and/or recondite words, which often run to obsolete and archaic extremes. #213935 - 01/11/14 11:29 PM Re: What does this quote mean? [Re: tsuwm]   Joined: Dec 2000 Posts: 13,803 Faldage Carpal Tunnel Faldage   Carpal Tunnel Joined: Dec 2000 Posts: 13,803 Ambrose Bierce, author of The Devil's Dictionary, was noted for his acerbic definitions. Another example: Originally Posted By: Ambrose Bierce: The Devil's Dictionary Conservative (n.) A statesman who is enamoured of existing evils, as distinguished from the Liberal, who wishes to replace them with others. #213969 - 01/15/14 09:16 AM Re: What does this quote mean? [Re: momi1234]   Joined: Oct 2013 Posts: 12 momi1234 stranger momi1234   stranger Joined: Oct 2013 Posts: 12 Thank you. Moderated by  Jackie  Hop To General Topics ------   Information and announcements   Q&A about words   Wordplay and fun   Words and languages in schools   Miscellany   Weekly Themes   Looking for (writers, speakers, ...) (Old) Weekly themes. (have been consolidated into a single forum above) ------   Words from medicine   Beheading words   Meta-words   Words from classical mythology   Animal Safari   Words with unusual etymologies   Eponyms or words derived from people's names.   Loanwords from German   English as a global language Print Thread Switch to Threaded Mode View Profile Send Private Message Follow User Show Forum Posts View Profile Send Private Message View Homepage Follow User Show Forum Posts View Profile Send Private Message View Homepage Follow User Show Forum Posts View Profile Send Private Message Follow User Show Forum Posts Forum Statistics Forums16 Topics13,878 Posts223,697 Members9,008 Most Online3,341 Dec 9th, 2011 Newest Members VegasCaptain, Mallo, drad_dog, Kimi, apma1 9008 Registered Users Who's Online Now 1 registered members (VegasCaptain), 47 guests, and 4 spiders. Key: Admin, Global Mod, Mod Top Posters(30 Days) wofahulicodoc 52 LukeJavan8 37 A C Bowden 17 GallantTed 2 apma1 1 Top Posters(All Time) wwh 13,858 Faldage 13,803 Jackie 11,613 tsuwm 10,538 LukeJavan8 8,917 wofahulicodoc 7,370 Buffalo Shrdlu 7,210 AnnaStrophic 6,511 Wordwind 6,296 of troy 5,400

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