Do you ever come across a new word? (meaning, quote, words)
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If you don’t come across a new word every now and then, you’re reading the wrong books (in my opinion).
I agree. If I read a novel and the author doesn't make me look up at least a couple of words in the dictionary, I consider him to be a second-rate author. Cormac McCarthy is good for that.
I'm not often stumped with words but did come across 'perseverate' somewhere here on C-D. I thought the poster meant 'persevere', but looked it up nonetheless. Apparently, it's a term used in psychology: repeat a response after the cessation of the original stimulus; "The subjects in this study perseverated". Interestingly, my Aussie spell check doesn't recognise perseverate or any of its variations (perseveraton, perseverating).
Another word I come across quite often in American writing is 'egregious'. While my Aussie spell check does recognise this word, I don't think I've ever heard it spoken or written by Australians.
I'm not often stumped with words but did come across 'perseverate' somewhere here on C-D. I thought the poster meant 'persevere', but looked it up nonetheless. Apparently, it's a term used in psychology: repeat a response after the cessation of the original stimulus; "The subjects in this study perseverated". Interestingly, my Aussie spell check doesn't recognise perseverate or any of its variations (perseveraton, perseverating).
Another word I come across quite often in American writing is 'egregious'. While my Aussie spell check does recognise this word, I don't think I've ever heard it spoken or written by Australians.
Perseverate is a new one to me. Egregious, I've used many times in my legal work.
One of my dearest friends is a walking dictionary. She and I still exchange handwritten letters on occasion. I always keep a dictionary nearby when I read her letters, as she inevitably uses a word with which I'm not familiar. I can usually discern the meaning via context, but I like to look up the word to see its origin and pronunciation. I like that my friend's writing keeps me on my toes!
Learned something new a few days ago. Valet does not rhyme with chalet; it rhymes with ballot. Like foyer (which rhymes with lawyer), valet is commonly mispronounced and fancified. But if you pronounce it correctly, you know that most people are going to snicker inwardly. "She said val-it! What a rube."
Learned something new a few days ago. Valet does not rhyme with chalet; it rhymes with ballot. Like foyer (which rhymes with lawyer), valet is commonly mispronounced and fancified. But if you pronounce it correctly, you know that most people are going to snicker inwardly. "She said val-it! What a rube."
It will probably be deemed "OK" after it's used long enough, as occurred with people incorrectly pronouncing "forte" as "for-tay".
It will probably be deemed "OK" after it's used long enough, as occurred with people incorrectly pronouncing "forte" as "for-tay".
Exactly!
Quote:
Originally Posted by saucywench
Yeah, no one seems to realize it's fort, not forte.
Government is very boring. I do not know much about government. It is not my fort!!!
Not forte, that has to do with music!
Your[sic] welcome!!!
Well, it's spelled forte, with an E, but you're right--it only has one syllable.
And that last comment was just MEAN.
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