Date: Mon, 8 Jan 2001 18:06:25 -0500 From: Wordsmith To: linguaphile@wordsmith.org Subject: AWADmail Issue 24 [some parts elided -- ian] AWADmail Issue 24 January 7, 2001 A Compendium of Feedback on the Words in A.Word.A.Day and Other Interesting Tidbits about Words and Languages -------------------------------- From: Aaron Batista (aaron@monkeybiz.stanford.edu) Subject: positive forms put to good use... I immediately thought of this when I read your description of this week's theme. http://paul.merton.ox.ac.uk/language/gruntled.html -------------------------------- From: Julio Costa (costajulio@yahoo.com) Subject: AWAD: sipid, etc. If one dismantles something, does one end up with mantlepieces, which may be then remantled? -------------------------------- From: B. Oltmann (agnest@u.washington.edu) Subject: A poem In keeping with the theme of the week, an old favorite by Ogden Nash: I dreamed a dream, And I'm glad I dreamt it: I dreamed my hair was kempt And my true love unkempt it. -------------------------------- From: Lois Goldthwaite (loisg@ospace.demon.co.uk) Subject: another non-negative word Remember the movie Private Benjamin with Goldie Hawn? The drill sergeant is briefing the recruits about a simulated-battle obstacle course they have to tackle: "There will also be land mines. Most of them are inert. However, some of them are ert." -------------------------------- From: Kim Chamberlain (kimilena@xtra.co.nz) Subject: AWAD words better known in their negative forms Reading Douglas Adam's 'Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency' I came across this wonderful piece of Dirk Gently dialogue: "Let us think the unthinkable, let us do the undoable. Let us prepare to grapple with the ineffable itself, and see if we may not eff it after all." -------------------------------- From: Stephen W. Constable (stephen.w.constable@usa.dupont.com) Subject: antanaclasis How's this for a slightly risque (but one of my favorite) antanaclasis: She offered her honor, he honored her offer and all night long it was honor and offer. -------------------------------- From: John Aul (jaul@symon.com) Subject: in responce to W. James Soetaert If "Compassionate Conservative" is an Oxymoron, then so is "Liberal Values". ........................................................................... I have studied it often, but I never could discover the plot. -Mark Twain, author and humorist, on dictionary (1835-1910)