|
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 6
stranger
|
OP
stranger
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 6 |
I saw the word "percerberating" in another on-line forum, and I couldn't even find in in the OED. Is this a word anyone knows?
|
|
|
|
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 6,296
Carpal Tunnel
|
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 6,296 |
I checked Onelook.com and there wasn't anything in their over 700+ dictionaries, but wwh uses words here that aren't listed there!
Anyway, more to the point, what was the context? That may give a clue about a possible misspelling or maybe wordplay.
Best regards, WW
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858
Carpal Tunnel
|
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858 |
If it's not in OED, it is probably a mis-spelling of "perseverating". Unless someone made a coinage from "Cerberus": Hellhound of Greek mythology, Cerberus was the three-headed, dragon-tailed dog that stood guard at the opening to the underworld.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 2,891
Carpal Tunnel
|
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 2,891 |
Did you ask in that forum barnwitch? Now you've tweaked my curiosity.
|
|
|
|
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 0
stranger
|
stranger
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 0 |
|
|
|
|
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 4,189
Carpal Tunnel
|
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 4,189 |
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858
Carpal Tunnel
|
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858 |
Dear WO'N: Are you in the right thread? " Some groups practiced the Meidung (shunning and social avoidance), while others showed a more tolerant attitude toward the person who transgressed. ... "
|
|
|
|
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 10,542
Carpal Tunnel
|
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 10,542 |
bill, you may be on the right track; it's possible that someone was trying to coin a word for the phrase "to give a sop to Cerberus". (that might get a few hits)
|
|
|
|
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 6
stranger
|
OP
stranger
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 6 |
Here is the original use. The person is somewhat of a PITA who seems to delight in annoying people. I am convinced she made up the word or is doing a Norm Crosby. I looked in OED and also did a search on the word. Nada.
"Please try to avoid percerberating and provide a cogent response."
|
|
|
|
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 6,296
Carpal Tunnel
|
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 6,296 |
exacerbating + prevaricating = percerberating (sort of?) exacerbating + persisting = percerberating (sort of?) persisting + exacerbating + berating = percerberating (almost)
Wonder what the pita thought she was spreading her language layers with?
|
|
|
Forums16
Topics13,913
Posts229,590
Members9,187
|
Most Online3,341 Dec 9th, 2011
|
|
1 members (A C Bowden),
183
guests, and
2
robots. |
Key:
Admin,
Global Mod,
Mod
|
|
|
|