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
#71405 05/28/02 02:05 AM
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 10,542
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 10,542
Shakespeare actually used nice in several different senses:

These are complements, these are humours, these betraie nice wenches that would be betraied without these. Love's Labor's Lost [wanton]

And he that stands vpon a slipp'ry place, Makes nice of no vilde hold to stay him vp. John III [to display reserve]

That policie may either last so long, Or feede vpon such nice and waterish diet. Othello [thin]

The Letter was not nice, but full of charge, Of deare import, and the neglecting it May do much danger. Romeo & Juliet [trivial]

To set so rich a mayne On the nice hazard of one doubtfull houre, It were not good. Henry IV [critical]

Ile proue it on his body if he dare, Despight his nice fence, and his actiue practise. Much Ado.. [carefully accurate]

We will enjoy That *nice-preserued honesty of yours. Titus..

stupid/foolish > wanton/lascivious > extravagant > elegant > strange > slothful > unmanly > luxurious > modest > slight > precise > thin > shy > discriminating > dainty > pleasant and agreeable

"You scold me so much in a nice long letter.. which I have received from you." - Jane Austen

(what do you suppose she meant?)

#71406 05/28/02 02:24 AM
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 4,189
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 4,189
a nice long letter; nice long

Nice long seems to be have acquired a double connotation. The phrase or idiom can be said with a glint of cynicism as in, "Yeah, that'll be there for a nice long time." Or, more literally, in a more congenial sense, "Think I'll take a nice long vacation." However, its use in the Austen quote does seem to hang in ambiguity (perhaps intentionally?).


#71407 05/28/02 02:46 AM
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 2,788
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 2,788
I have also heard the phrase "make nice" used to mean to mollify, to assuage, to grovel, to appease or the like. Anyone wise to the derivation?



#71408 05/28/02 04:35 AM
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 10,542
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 10,542
"make nice" derivation> Shakespeare, op. cit.

()

#71409 05/28/02 03:40 PM
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803
re: it decimates the arguments -- does that mean is it 10% acurate?

It means that 10% of the argument is taken out and shot and the other 90% is sent off to complain about other linguistic matters.


#71410 05/28/02 09:15 PM
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 544
H
addict
Offline
addict
H
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 544
Ah, the shades of meaning of this word. Reminds me of something I heard in some sitcom years ago, in one of my rare moments of pointing my eyes toward the big glowing box. Two women are talking, and the first one says "So, how did your date with Chris go? How is he?" The second woman replies "He's a very nice person," to which her friend says "What a terrible thing to say!"


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 (), 674 guests, and 4 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