How do you accept the definition of a word?
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Re: How do you accept the definition of a word?
#41 
by gooseboy » May 20, 2010 1:32 am
LIFE wrote:gooseboy wrote:The problem with that is that it's using etymology, which gives pretty bad results when applied to many common words (eg awful).
But when I strictly translate from Latin to English it gives me "no(t) god" or "(negate) god", no?
So a strict translation without extrapolating any further meaning is etymology?
Etymology is the history of a word. "Atheist" is now an English word whose derivation is from Latin. I would say that if you're going to define English words using their Latin derivations then you're using etymology, which is often invalid. For example the word "Senate" is derived from the Latin "Senex" which means "old man". Obviously the meaning of the word has evolved and it wouldn't do you much good to go back to the Latin derivation and say that all senators must be old and male.
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Re: How do you accept the definition of a word?
#42 by LIFE » May 20, 2010 1:49 am
gooseboy wrote:LIFE wrote:gooseboy wrote:The problem with that is that it's using etymology, which gives pretty bad results when applied to many common words (eg awful).
But when I strictly translate from Latin to English it gives me "no(t) god" or "(negate) god", no?
So a strict translation without extrapolating any further meaning is etymology?
Etymology is the history of a word. "Atheist" is now an English word whose derivation is from Latin. I would say that if you're going to define English words using their Latin derivations then you're using etymology, which is often invalid. For example the word "Senate" is derived from the Latin "Senex" which means "old man". Obviously the meaning of the word has evolved and it wouldn't do you much good to go back to the Latin derivation and say that all senators must be old and male.
I see. I blame those who did that to the language then
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Re: How do you accept the definition of a word?
#43 by gooseboy » May 20, 2010 3:16 am
LIFE wrote:I see. I blame those who did that to the language then
I blame them too. And those damn suffragettes!
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Re: How do you accept the definition of a word?
#44 by irreligionist » May 20, 2010 3:21 am
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Re: How do you accept the definition of a word?
#45 by gooseboy » May 20, 2010 3:27 am
Oh come on. "suffragette" hasn't been a derogatory word for over a century. Just because you may recall it's original meaning doesn't mean that everyone else has to continue to use it in that sense.
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Re: How do you accept the definition of a word?
#46 by sennekuyl » May 20, 2010 3:31 am
suffragette is an insult? I thought it was a compliment to a woman! eep!
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Re: How do you accept the definition of a word?
#47 by irreligionist » May 20, 2010 5:37 am
gooseboy wrote:
Oh come on. "suffragette" hasn't been a derogatory word for over a century. Just because you may recall it's original meaning doesn't mean that everyone else has to continue to use it in that sense.
You may be gay to accept the current usage, but I adhere firmly to the original meanings of words.
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Re: How do you accept the definition of a word?
#48 by Thommo » May 20, 2010 5:41 am
irreligionist wrote:gooseboy wrote:
Oh come on. "suffragette" hasn't been a derogatory word for over a century. Just because you may recall it's original meaning doesn't mean that everyone else has to continue to use it in that sense.
You may be gay to accept the current usage, but I adhere firmly to the original meanings of words.
What was the original meaning of "words"?
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