The primary definition is not a state of despondency. The primary definition is a proper name of a fictional swamp or bog in Paul Bunyan's "Pilgrim's Progress."
The secondary definition of slough of despond as a state of despondency or being mired or stuck in a sense of hopelessness is derived from the literary reference.
Duchamp supposedly coined the word (french: <i>inframince</i>) as a "notion" that could not be defined, but could be captured by usage examples, viz.
* the warmth of a seat (which has just/been left) is infrathin * when the tobacco smoke smells also of the/mouth which exhales it, the two odors/marry by infrathin * 2 forms cast in/the same mold (?) differ from each other by an infrathin amount.
The last one is actually, to my mind, the best example.
I think Duchamp was being a bit haughty when saying it could not be defined. I think it certainly can be. My proposal would be to define something like this:
noun 1. "the sensation of difference where the difference is too small for our senses to actually have noticed it"
noun 2. " the sensation of two things sharing a similarity, but this physical similarity can not be attributed to any particular sense-able attribute"
noun 3. An ineffable physical similarity or differance. This similarity or differance can also be time-based.
Comments by klktrk
klktrk commented on the word take umbrage
Etymology:
15th century, originally from Latin umbra "shade, shadow."
Examples:
She took umbrage at the man for stepping in front of him in line.
When, without offering an excuse, she told him she would not be able to attend his birthday, he took umbrage.
March 17, 2020
klktrk commented on the word Slough of Despond
The primary definition is not a state of despondency. The primary definition is a proper name of a fictional swamp or bog in Paul Bunyan's "Pilgrim's Progress."
The secondary definition of slough of despond as a state of despondency or being mired or stuck in a sense of hopelessness is derived from the literary reference.
August 6, 2018
klktrk commented on the word horripilating
Adj. Something that causes horripilation, the raising of hairs,hairs standing on end due to cold or fear.
Synonyms: Hair-raising. Goose-flesh inducing.
May 3, 2017
klktrk commented on the word infrathin
Duchamp supposedly coined the word (french: <i>inframince</i>) as a "notion" that could not be defined, but could be captured by usage examples, viz.
* the warmth of a seat (which has just/been left) is infrathin
* when the tobacco smoke smells also of the/mouth which exhales it, the two odors/marry by infrathin
* 2 forms cast in/the same mold (?) differ from each other by an infrathin amount.
The last one is actually, to my mind, the best example.
I think Duchamp was being a bit haughty when saying it could not be defined. I think it certainly can be. My proposal would be to define something like this:
noun 1. "the sensation of difference where the difference is too small for our senses to actually have noticed it"
noun 2. " the sensation of two things sharing a similarity, but this physical similarity can not be attributed to any particular sense-able attribute"
noun 3. An ineffable physical similarity or differance. This similarity or differance can also be time-based.
January 29, 2015