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#84739 10/25/02 09:27 PM
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in the middle of a bachelor party

Am I invited?


#84740 10/25/02 09:44 PM
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Sure! Are you a batchlore?


#84741 10/25/02 10:14 PM
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tsuwm,

Thanks for the OED research. I guess there are too many legal un- formations to list in the Scrabble dictionary.

Thanks again.

--
...the OED reveals that uncasual was used at least once in the dimly viewed past, with an olde spelling:

1618 SYLVESTER Panaretus 781 Besides th' off-cutting of All Passages,..Is even to conquer by uncasuall course.


#84742 10/27/02 01:31 PM
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a new formation with un- has been introduced when that with in- has acquired a connotation which it is desirable to avoid

- For instance if you want to emphasise the word, making an ironic use of opposites? Using a "new" (or little-known) construction such as uncasual works well in that sort of context, I think.

You can also bring in double-negatives to good effect:
"He was not uncasual"



#84743 10/28/02 01:51 AM
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"He was not uncasual"
Shona, that's litotes. [proud of herself for remembering something for once e]


#84744 10/28/02 11:55 PM
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litotes

Oh yes! Well remembered, J.

And I should have remembered myself:
http://wordsmith.org/board/showthreaded.pl?Cat=&Board=words&Number=80372



#84745 10/29/02 01:18 AM
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And I should have remembered myself:
Great minds are alike, I see. [conspiratorial smile]


#84746 10/30/02 11:45 AM
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uncasual?

No, it isn't.


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