Weird Words
There are lots of other words out there that I like, but sadly they don't get used much because few people know what they mean.
One word - two opposing definitions?!
Sunday 8 June 2008
Oversight
This is what the Merriam Webster online dictionary says:
1 a: watchful and responsible care b: regulatory supervision
2: an inadvertent omission or error
I've always thought this was an odd word as it seems to have two opposing definitions! The first being a bunch of people who oversee some process or other. I have only come across this use of the word in America.
The second seems to be the more usual British use of the word - "something I forgot to look at".
According to Answers.com the main use of the word is the British version and the American version is specifically something the American government came up with!
The word 'overlook' must have exactly the same problems!
Wikipedia has rather a long list of words with opposing definitions and there are some quite surprising ones there!
Is strewing a proper word?!
Wednesday 23 April 2008
Yes, according to Answers.com.
Oh, I supposed I'd better explain properly! I've used the word 'strewn' many times (spread here and there). We were talking about wheelie bins and how badgers or foxes were probably capable of pulling/pushing one over and strewing the contents around. Then I wondered if 'strewing' was actually a word. Was there a verb 'to strew' or did it only exist in the past tense (stuff was strewn around), or was it some strange old word to do with spreading straw?!
Anyways, Answers.com says it's a verb and that it does come from Old English, but it doesn't say anything much about straw!
So now you know!
Rogitty
Thursday 20 March 2008
Rogitty - a word made up by a couple of friends of mine. Used to describe feeling down but not really knowing why. For more info go to www.rogitty.com and spread the word!
Onomatopoeic words!
Wednesday 19 March 2008
Mellifluous - 'flowing like honey'. Very onomatopoeic!
Onomatopoeic - the strict meaning is for words which imitate the sounds they are describing e.g. buzz, sizzle, clang. It is often used though to describe any word that suggests its meaning.