I saw this and thought I was going to correct it to Severin, Severin — as in, "Severin, Severin, speak so slightly...." You have proven me wrong, and provided a joke to boot. Good on ya, rolig!
My seventh grade English teacher told us that the English language held precisely forty-five prepositions, and she made us learn them all. I'm sure "anent" wasn't on her list — encountering a new preposition feels only slightly lower on the scale of cognitive dissonance than encountering a new primary color.
Comments by electriccounterpoint
electriccounterpoint commented on the word striped-pants cookie pusher
A purpose-built insult for your least favorite diplomat.
August 15, 2009
electriccounterpoint commented on the word describe
I've tried to remember this word a few times — when you're making a geometric figure in the air, there's no better verb than "describe."
November 9, 2008
electriccounterpoint commented on the word severer severer
I saw this and thought I was going to correct it to Severin, Severin — as in, "Severin, Severin, speak so slightly...." You have proven me wrong, and provided a joke to boot. Good on ya, rolig!
October 13, 2008
electriccounterpoint commented on the word coöperation
"Coöperation" is a fair introduction to the diaresis, but discriminating users prefer "zoölogical."
October 13, 2008
electriccounterpoint commented on the word anent
My seventh grade English teacher told us that the English language held precisely forty-five prepositions, and she made us learn them all. I'm sure "anent" wasn't on her list — encountering a new preposition feels only slightly lower on the scale of cognitive dissonance than encountering a new primary color.
October 12, 2008
electriccounterpoint commented on the word bailiffim and sheriffim
What all the little process-servers hope to grow up into.
(See Ogden Nash's "Kindly Unhitch That Star, Buddy")
July 16, 2008
electriccounterpoint commented on the word le roy le veult
"The King wills it" -- the abracadabra, in Norman French, required to give royal assent to an act of Parliament prior to the 1990s.
June 12, 2008
electriccounterpoint commented on the word tertium non datur
"There is no third." Comes from logic; it's a neat way to express a binary choice.
May 9, 2008
electriccounterpoint commented on the word mislive
My girlfriend discovered this wonderful word via Scrabulous.
April 15, 2008
electriccounterpoint commented on the word sähkö
Finnish for "electricity"
April 6, 2008