instruction stringlengths 14 30k |
|---|
> **Possible Duplicate:**
> [How and why have some words changed to a complete opposite?](http://english.stackexchange.com/questions/22293/how-and-why-have-some-words-changed-to-a-complete-opposite)
<!-- End of automatically inserted text -->
The picture below completely sums up my question:
![enter image desc... |
[Thefreedictionary][1] has a couple of meanings for the idiom *in so many words*.
>1. In precisely those words; exactly: hinted at impending indictments but did not say it in so many words.
2. Speaking candidly and straightforwardly: In so many words, the weather has been beastly.
It carries an idea of being exp... |
It was my understanding that, in traditional Western weddings, if the bride were to become [unavailable][1] on the day of her wedding that the groom was then expected to wed the maid of honor or the next available bridesmaid, thus precluding married women from serving as bridesmaids.
Times have changed and the term ... |
What is the term for a married “bridesmaid?” |
It was my understanding that, in traditional Western weddings, if the bride were to become [unavailable][1] on the day of her wedding then the groom was expected to wed the maid of honor or the next available bridesmaid, thus precluding married women from serving as bridesmaids.
Times have changed and the term “matr... |
> **Possible Duplicate:**
> [I can run faster than _____. (1) him (2) he?](http://english.stackexchange.com/questions/3447/i-can-run-faster-than-1-him-2-he)
<!-- End of automatically inserted text -->
Which one is correct?
> He is taller than I.
> He is taller than me.
|
What is the correct usage: "rack my brain" or "wrack my brain"? Google turned up pages with conflicting recommendations.
[One argument][1] is that to "rack a brain" comes from the [torture device known as a rack][2].
[Another][3] is that wrack means damage or destruction or punishment and thus is correct.
Sin... |
What is correct: "rack my brain" or "wrack my brain"? |
According to this [entry for *wrack* in EtymOnline](http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=wrack), the term should use *rack*:
>The verb meaning "to ruin or wreck" (originally of ships) is recorded from 1560s, from earlier intrans. sense "to be shipwrecked" (late 15c.). Often confused in this sense since 16c. with... |
The [Oxford Dictionary Online](http://oxforddictionaries.com/definition/rack) says that the phrase could use either *wrack* or *rack*. They note that
>The relationship between the forms rack and wrack is complicated. The most common noun sense of rack, ‘a framework for holding and storing things’, is always spelled ... |
The [Oxford Dictionary Online](http://oxforddictionaries.com/definition/rack) says that the phrase could use either *wrack* or *rack*. They note that
>The relationship between the forms rack and wrack is complicated. The most common noun sense of rack, ‘a framework for holding and storing things’, is always spelled ... |
The [Oxford Dictionary Online](http://oxforddictionaries.com/definition/rack) says that the phrase could use either *wrack* or *rack*. They note that
>The relationship between the forms rack and wrack is complicated. The most common noun sense of rack, ‘a framework for holding and storing things’, is always spelled ... |
After simchona clarified what exactly was the problem, I looked it up, in [Bride's forum](http://www.brides.com/forums/thread.jspa?messageID=164397), and someone asked a similar question:
>Is there a special name for a bridesmaid that is married? I am having my older married sister as my Matron of Honor and my unm... |
"It's precisely in contrast to the ordinary that the resurrection stands out."
Could someone explain what the author meant by, "in contrast to the ordinary"? Could I replace "in contrast" in this case with "opposite"?
Much appreciated. |
"In contrast to" is used when you are comparing unlike things. So, "the resurrection" stands out from "the ordinary" because it [contrasts][1] with it, that is, it differs from it.
[1]: http://www.google.ca/search?q=define:%20contrast |
Which of the following sentences is more acceptable?
> "This is just between you and I."
or
> "This is just between you and me."
I have come across both these sentences in movies and I'm not sure which one is more acceptable. Can someone help me? |
Which sentence is more acceptable? |
>"It's precisely in contrast to the ordinary that the resurrection stands out."
Could someone explain what the author meant by, "in contrast to the ordinary"? Could I replace "in contrast" in this case with "opposite"?
Much appreciated. |
Which of the following sentences is more acceptable?
> "This is just between you and I."
or
> "This is just between you and me."
I have come across both of these sentences in movies and I'm not sure which one is more acceptable. Can someone help me? |
> **Possible Duplicates:**
> [When do I use "I" instead of "me?"](http://english.stackexchange.com/questions/313/when-do-i-use-i-instead-of-me)
> [Which is correct, "you and I" or "you and me"?](http://english.stackexchange.com/questions/1047/which-is-correct-you-and-i-or-you... |
>"It's precisely in contrast to the ordinary that the resurrection stands out."
Could someone explain what the author meant by, "in contrast to the ordinary"? Could I replace "in contrast" in this case with "opposite"?
|
Is it possible to regard "vacant" and "vacancy" as allomorphs (variants) of the same root in Modern English? |
Let's say that A and B are two different kinds of foods. Which is grammatically correct?
> A goes **good** with B.
>A goes **well** with B.
If they're both correct, then which is better? |
I've found this definition of `triage`: "The process of sorting people based on their need for immediate medical treatment as compared to their chance of benefiting from such care." So I can understand that triaging an issue list means giving some priorities to the items and sorting the list.
But what does triaging ... |
What does "triage an issue" mean? |
I've found this definition of `triage`:
>"The process of sorting people based on their need for immediate medical treatment as compared to their chance of benefiting from such care."
So I can understand that triaging an issue list means giving some priorities to the items and sorting the list.
But what does ... |
I am under the impression that both 'coterminous' and 'conterminous' have exact meaning. There was a remark that Latin-purist prefer conterminous. Why?
Is there any significant difference between two? Do 'co' and 'con' have same effect on words?
I am looking for any additional information about these two words wh... |
Do coterminous and conterminous have exact meaning? |
[*Prologue*](http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=prologue) and [*epilogue*](http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=epilogue) use a form of the Greek *logos*, which means "a speaking". The word [**lecture**](http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=lecture) is the word for the speech itself, stemming again from *... |
Do "coterminous" and "conterminous" have exact meaning? |
Yes, *conterminous* and *coterminous* both mean "to share a boundary".
I don't know why Latin purists prefer things, I guess maybe *con-* is more regular?
In this instance *co-* and *con-* both mean *together* or *with*.
[Etymology of co-](http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?search=co-)
[Etymology of con-](... |
Yes, *conterminous* and *coterminous* both mean "to share a boundary".
According to the entries for *co-* and *con-*, below, *co-* is an Anglicising of *con-*, which is possibly why Latin purists prefer *con-*
In this instance *co-* and *con-* both mean *together* or *with*.
[Etymology of co-](http://www.etymo... |
Do "coterminous" and "conterminous" have the same meaning? |
I am under the impression that both *coterminous* and *conterminous* have exactly the same meaning. There was a remark that Latin purists prefer *conterminous*. Why?
Is there any significant difference between the two? Do *co-* and *con-* have same effect on words?
I am looking for any additional information abou... |
Do "coterminous" and "conterminous" have exactly the same meaning? |
>"It's precisely in contrast to the ordinary that the resurrection stands out."
Could someone explain what the author meant by "in contrast to the ordinary"? Could I replace "in contrast" in this case with "opposite"?
|
I wanted to use the phrase "god forbid" the other day, but really wanted to avoid the religious connotations that may come along with it. I was stumped while thinking of a replacement or variation.
I like the way the phrase "flows" or "feels" when interjected like this:
> You could do X if, god forbid, Y doesn't ... |
I wanted to use the phrase "God forbid" the other day, but really wanted to avoid the religious connotations that may come along with it. I was stumped while thinking of a replacement or variation.
I like the way the phrase "flows" or "feels" when interjected like this:
> You could do X if, God forbid, Y doesn't ... |
Aside from the phrases "God forbid" and "Heaven (or heaven) forbid" which could be construed to have religious connotations, this [site](http://idioms.yourdictionary.com/god-forbid) suggests *perish the thought*. On the entry for this phrase, the [site writes](http://idioms.yourdictionary.com/perish-the-thought):
>D... |
Aside from the phrases "God forbid" and "Heaven (or heaven) forbid" which could be construed to have religious connotations, this [site](http://idioms.yourdictionary.com/god-forbid) suggests *perish the thought*. On the entry for this phrase, the [site writes](http://idioms.yourdictionary.com/perish-the-thought):
>D... |
What is the term for a "married bridesmaid?” |
It was my understanding that, in traditional Western weddings, if the bride were to become [unavailable][1] on the day of her wedding then the groom was expected to wed the maid of honor or the next available bridesmaid, thus precluding married women from serving as bridesmaids.
Times have changed and the term *matr... |
In Scottish English, I know that the word *summat* is used in place of standard *something*. But what's the etymology of this pronoun?
It seems unlikely to me that *summat* could be merely a variant pronunciation of *something*. It also seems likely that the *sum-* part is from *some*, as with *something*, though I ... |
I ate food and it is was delicious
In this sentence, eating is a verb that acts on food. However, we can also say:
the food was eaten and was delicious
Here, still the object (food) is present. But, sometimes we only use the word **eaten** as the substitute of the object (food).
eaten was delici... |
What do we call an adjective made of a verb? |
I ate food and it is was delicious
In this sentence, eating is a verb that acts on food. However, we can also say:
the food was eaten and was delicious
Here, still the object (food) is present. But, sometimes we only use the word **eaten** as the substitute of the object (food).
eaten was delici... |
> I ate food and it is was delicious.
In this sentence, eating is a verb that acts on food. However, we can also say:
> The food was eaten and was delicious.
Here, still the object (food) is present. But, sometimes we only use the word **eaten** as the substitute of the object (food).
> Eaten was delicious.... |
I've always supposed it derived from *somewhat*.
While [UrbanDictionary](http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=summat) includes "Yorkshire slang for *something*" among its definitions of *summat*, the definitions derived from *somewhat* or from *something like that* seem more compelling. Of *summat*'s etymol... |
OP is not alone in thinking **commonest** doesn't sound so good today. It used to be a perfectly common word, but [over the last century][1] **most common** has become much more common. But if OP is determined to have a single word, there's nothing to stop him using the older form.
![enter image description here][2]... |
What do we call adjectives made by verbs. For example:
Lost is an adjective made from lose,
Forgotten is an adjective made from forget,
Broken is an adjective made from break.
What is the technical term for such adjectives? Do they have a name at all?
|
What do we call adjectives formed from verbs? For example:
* *Lost* is an adjective made from *lose*,
* *Forgotten* is an adjective made from *forget*,
* *Broken* is an adjective made from *break*.
What is the technical term for such adjectives? Do they have a name at all?
|
It's not just that article. [Here's][1] a book which has it:
>Bread and ale, both packed with calories and nutrients, lay at the heart of all diets, and ale barm was so vital that it was sometimes known as *godisgoode* 'bicause it cometh of the grete grace of God'.
Searching for the last quote, I found [a site][... |
Is there a name for where prepositional phrases are in a sentence? For example, is there a name to distinguish
There has not been a queen on the island.
from
On the island, there has not been a queen.
? |
How to distinguish between positions of prepositional phrases? |
Is there a name for where prepositional phrases are in a sentence? For example, is there a name to distinguish the following sentences?
> There has not been a queen on the island.
> On the island, there has not been a queen.
|
Is "close proxmity" a tautology? |
Which is correct: "rack my brain" or "wrack my brain"? |
"product in your hair" yields "About 602,000 results" on Google. To clarify, for those who are unfamiliar, I'm asking about the common case wherein the word is used *alone*, not in conjunction with some other word. "You should use product to keep your hair tidy," "I stopped putting product in my hair a couple years a... |
Whence came the usage of the word "product" in cosmotology (specifically hair care)? |
Whence came the usage of the word "product" in cosmetology (specifically hair care)? |
"product in your hair" yields "About 602,000 results" on Google. To clarify, for those who are unfamiliar, I'm asking about the common case wherein the word is used *alone*, not in conjunction with some other word. "You should use product to keep your hair tidy," "I stopped putting product in my hair a couple years a... |
Is "close proximity" a tautology? |
Suppose someone writes "undergraduate students need only apply" when posting a job ad.
Does this really mean "We'll take anybody off the street right away with no further questions as long as they're an undergraduate student" like it seems to?
What are the implications for people who aren't "undergraduate stude... |
Suppose someone writes "undergraduate students need only apply" when posting a job ad.
Does this really mean "We'll take anybody off the street right away with no further questions as long as they're an undergraduate student" like it seems to?
What are the implications for people who aren't "undergraduate stude... |
Usually, the phrase would be *undergraduate students only need apply*. This implies that the job poster only wants to receive applications from undergraduate students.
To say "need only apply" implies that undergraduate students only need to fill out an application in order to be considered. In the context of a job... |
Usually, the phrase would be *undergraduate students only need apply*. This implies that the job poster only wants to receive applications from undergraduate students.
To say "need only apply" implies that undergraduate students only need to fill out an application in order to be considered. In the context of a job... |
This will prevent myself from asking an obvious, silly question again. What are the most useful English language tools?
I found [Corpus Concordance English](http://www.lextutor.ca/concordancers/concord_e.html) extremely useful for looking up [collocations](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Collocation).
Please, one t... |
I don't know who first said it, but the Oxford English Dictionary has a little information about its background:
> orig. *N. Amer.* Any commercial preparation used to style the hair or (occas.) as a cosmetic.
> 1989 *St. Louis Post-Dispatch* (Nexis) 27 Apr. (Style West section) 4 The key to making mascara work is... |
I have a good friend in his late 60s, and I've made an interesting observation that absolutely no one in our social circle will refer to the female he is (indisputably) dating with the term "girlfriend". A frequent comical substitution is "lady friend".
I wonder what it is about the word that makes people not want ... |
I don't know who first said it, but the Oxford English Dictionary has a little information about its background:
> orig. *N. Amer.* Any commercial preparation used to style the hair or (occas.) as a cosmetic.
> 1989 *St. Louis Post-Dispatch* (Nexis) 27 Apr. (Style West section) 4 The key to making mascara work is... |
I find articles of New York Times’ columnist, Maureen Dowd a treasure house of English expressions unfamiliar to non-native English learners. It’s stud with knotty expressions and new words to me. In her article titled of Dystopia and Alpha (August 2), I stumbled on the word, “alpha” in the beginning line;
“Preside... |
I find articles of New York Times’ columnist, Maureen Dowd a treasure house of English expressions unfamiliar to non-native English learners. It’s stud with knotty expressions and new words to me. In her article titled of Dystopia and Alpha (August 2), I stumbled on the word, “alpha” in the beginning line;
“Preside... |
I find articles of New York Times’ columnist, Maureen Dowd a treasure house of English expressions unfamiliar to non-native English learners. It’s stud with knotty expressions and new words to me. In her article titled of Dystopia and Alpha (August 2), I stumbled on the word, “alpha” in the beginning line;
“Preside... |
I have the following categories (for a forum):
- Entertainment
- Transportation
- Business
- Travel
- Legal
- Relationships
- Technology
- Politics
I also wanted to add two more categories:
One about **living** in general (housing, health, etc.)
And other about **working** in general (getting... |
Nouns for 'living' and 'working' which sound more category-like? |
I have the following categories (for a forum):
- Entertainment
- Transportation
- Business
- Travel
- Legal
- Relationships
- Technology
- Politics
I also wanted to add two more categories:
One about **living** in general (getting a house, getting use to a new country, etc.)
And other about *... |
I find articles of New York Times’ columnist, Maureen Dowd a treasure house of English expressions unfamiliar to non-native English learners. It’s stud with knotty expressions and new words to me. In her article titled of Dystopia and Alpha (August 2), I stumbled on the word, “alpha” in the beginning line;
>“Presid... |
If I recall correctly, the Académie française states that, for French, quantities comprised within [-1,1] are singular, and anything else is plural. This means, for instance, that we should say (in French) 0.3722 apple, instead of 0.3722 apples.
I know the plurality for 1 and -1 in English, but what is the plurality... |
What does *grown in orchards* and *considered a fruit* mean here?
> ... but if you're willing to think of both as **grown in orchards** and **considered a fruit**, you can, in fact, compare them ...
This refers to a comparison between IBM Lotus Domino and Microsoft Sharepoint. |
I find articles of New York Times’ columnist, Maureen Dowd a treasure house of English expressions unfamiliar to non-native English learners. It’s stud with knotty expressions and new words to me. In her article titled of Dystopia and Alpha (August 2), I stumbled on the word, “alpha” in the beginning line;
>“Presid... |
I was wondering about a sentence like this:
> If nature were to design a bicycle, how would it look?
Is *nature* missing an article? Should it be "a nature" or "the nature", or is it correct as is? Could you also explain why? |
When does "nature" require an article and why? |
If a word or phrase is used and has evolved its own meaning peculiar to a specific group, is this described as *jargon* or is there a closer semantic match? |
I find articles of New York Times’ columnist, Maureen Dowd a treasure house of English expressions unfamiliar to non-native English learners. It’s stud with knotty expressions and new words to me. In her article titled of Dystopia and Alpha (August 2), I stumbled on the word, “alpha” in the beginning line;
>“Presid... |
I want to know what's the different between the ownership usage:
"He's her mother's son"
"He is the son of her mother"
What's the difference between using "'s " and "of"?
Also, because I don't know exactly how this should be called, so I call it ownership. But what's its proper name?
Another example is:
... |
I want to know what's the different between the ownership usage:
"He's her mother's son"
"He is the son of her mother"
What's the difference between using "'s " and "of"?
Also, because I don't know exactly how this should be called, so I call it ownership. But what's its proper name?
Another example is:
... |
Is there a single word that describes this state in English? |
I want to know what's the different between the ownership usage:
>"He's her mother's son"
>"He is the son of her mother"
What's the difference between using "'s " and "of"?
Also, because I don't know exactly how this should be called I call it ownership. But what's its proper name?
Another example is:
... |
I've always wondered this.
What does it actually mean when you say "Something under the lines of..."
For instance if you were commissioning a sculpture you might sit down with the artist and a pen and paper and say "I want something under the lines of this" and then draw a sketch.
Or if you were describing a b... |
Where does "under the lines of" come from? |
> Also, because I don't know exactly how this should be called? I call it ownership. But what's its proper name?
Formally these are both [genitive case][1] (or possessive case), and indicate ownership.
"Dragon's Year" - this is sometimes called the **[Saxon genitive][2]**.
"Year of the Dragon" - this is a **pr... |
I've always wondered this.
What does it actually mean when you say "Something under the lines of..."
For instance if you were commissioning a sculpture you might sit down with the artist and a pen and paper and say "I want something under the lines of this" and then draw a sketch.
Or if you were describing a b... |
I've always wondered this.
What does it actually mean when you say "Something along the lines of..."
For instance if you were commissioning a sculpture you might sit down with the artist and a pen and paper and say "I want something along the lines of this" and then draw a sketch.
Or if you were describing a b... |
Where does "along the lines of" come from? |
Is there a single word that describes the state of not being happy with something but having to be satisfied with it? |
The 1950's song [Fever](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fever_(Little_Willie_John_song)) (covered, among others, by Elvis Presley) contains the following lines:
> Now you've listened to my story
Here's the point that I have made
**Cats were born to give chicks fever**
Be it Fahrenheit or Centigrade
They gi... |
Chicks - Girls, Cats - Boys? |
I remember that I can use "as well" as a synonym for "too" (or "also").
Is there any case in which I **can't** do this?
Am I safe using either of them?
----------
This is partly related to these questions:
- [You are in Jonathan's circles "too" or "as well" or "also"](http://english.stackexchange.com... |
When can I use "as well" as a synonym for "too" or "also"? |
According to [etymnonline][1]:
> Slang sense of "fellow, guy," is from 1920, originally in U.S. Black Eng.; narrower sense of "jazz enthusiast" is recorded from 1931.
Today, you generally do not hear the term used when referring to a man. Guy, dude, bro, man, buddy and pal are more commonplace today.
[1]: ht... |
End of preview. Expand in Data Studio
README.md exists but content is empty.
- Downloads last month
- 285