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#71243 05/25/02 06:21 PM
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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?


#71244 05/25/02 06:31 PM
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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


#71245 05/25/02 06:35 PM
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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.


#71246 05/25/02 07:20 PM
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Did you ask in that forum barnwitch? Now you've tweaked my curiosity.


#71247 05/25/02 07:47 PM
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#71248 05/25/02 07:51 PM
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..


#71249 05/25/02 08:00 PM
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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. ... "


#71250 05/25/02 09:33 PM
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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)

#71251 05/25/02 10:47 PM
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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."


#71252 05/25/02 10:56 PM
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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?


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