What is the word for an experience that you have to live through in order to fully understand or appreciate, such as having a child or parenting? My Google-Fu is failing me. Thanks!
posted by mcarthey on Oct 29, 2009 - 32 answers

Is there a way to show single slides in WordPress without losing definition? [more inside]
posted by bru on Sep 28, 2009 - 3 answers

There's a certain trait that I've been calling "top-school-ish", but I'm wondering if there's a better word for it. I'm talking about those people who are extremely smart, well-organized, calm, extremely nice, have an optimistic attitude about the future and have lived a kind of sheltered existence. [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Sep 22, 2009 - 74 answers

What is the definition of a 'societal stakeholder'? [more inside]
posted by different on Aug 26, 2009 - 3 answers

Is atheism the belief that there are no gods or the lack of belief in existence of gods? This is philosophy 101 but I honestly keep finding different definitions claimed by atheists. Can someone clarify? (and if my question is phrased poorly, please forgive me but I hope you understand the gist.)
posted by snap_dragon on May 26, 2009 - 49 answers

Word Filter: What is the word for emotional argument? I've struggled to remember it, Googled it, etc. and can't for the life of me remember it - please help!
posted by gnash on Apr 22, 2009 - 16 answers

What is the legal definition of "first-time home-buyer" in Canada? [more inside]
posted by blue_beetle on Mar 30, 2009 - 4 answers

37" widescreen LCDTV viewed from 12' away, do my eyes have the resolving power to justify getting a Blu-ray instead of upscaling DVD player? [more inside]
posted by randomstriker on Sep 23, 2008 - 25 answers

What does it mean to 'scare the pewadden' out of someone? Where on earth did the word 'pewadden' originate from? [more inside]
posted by billy_the_punk on Aug 12, 2008 - 5 answers

Can you help me find an HD video camera? [more inside]
posted by trbrts on Jun 26, 2008 - 5 answers

Am I foolish for not going HD with my new camcorder purchase? [more inside]
posted by Roach on Jun 25, 2008 - 6 answers

I am looking for writings on the infinity of definition. [more inside]
posted by 0bvious on Mar 13, 2008 - 32 answers

Please help me find an online article on how things would be so much better if a circle contained pi radians instead of two pi radians. [more inside]
posted by Mapes on Mar 1, 2008 - 3 answers

What do you know about the Japanese word/concept of 'Ma'? I know it denotes the negative space between objects and it relates closely to the similarly used Japanese word 'Mu'. [more inside]
posted by 0bvious on Dec 27, 2007 - 15 answers

When in Dreamweaver 8 setting up the "site definitions / advanced/ remote info - I enter my login-in an password information and when I exit DW, it erases the information. Note that I've check the save password box. I can't get DW to save my Login and Password. How can I get it to save it? Thanks in advance for your help...
posted by orlin on Dec 26, 2007 - 3 answers

Software for keeping lists of terms and definitions organized? Help me tame the glossary monster. [more inside]
posted by gemmy on Dec 20, 2007 - 4 answers

Why do mathematicians (and/or programmers) describe information passed to a function as an 'argument'? [more inside]
posted by b33j on Dec 13, 2007 - 14 answers

I'm looking for a term my professor used to use for "convergent words." What do you call a word that uses roots with similar meanings to form the same concept across two languages? (either by chance or direct-translation) [more inside]
posted by mecenday on Dec 10, 2007 - 10 answers

SeussFilter: what does Said our fish as he lit mean? [more inside]
posted by puffmoike on Oct 12, 2007 - 16 answers

How do I record high definition (HD) video at at least 24 fps using a webcam? [more inside]
posted by bryanjbusch on Aug 17, 2007 - 10 answers

What is a blackout gag? [more inside]
posted by codger on Jun 28, 2007 - 10 answers

Who said this quote: "Let faith be your cynosure to walk by"? [more inside]
posted by spinifex23 on Apr 15, 2007 - 6 answers

Help, Help !! If anyone has experience with Dreamweaver and setting up the “Site Definition” settings; either basic or advanced mode for “Remote Info” I desperately need your advice and it would be very much appreciated. Runbox is my web host and I use “cPannel” to manage my web files. I can’t figure out what settings to use for “FTP access”. What would my “FTP host” be and what should I put in there this field? To be honest, I’m not quite sure what a FTP is although to use Dreamweaver’s functions, I need to set this up and have not been successful. Next question; Am I correct in saying the “Host Directory” would be in the “public_html” folder in cPannel that all my web page files are located? Any advice would be appreciated. I’ve tried multiple times and days to set this up, but I must be doing something wrong. Thank you in advance for your cooperation…Orlin
posted by orlin on Feb 9, 2007 - 7 answers

Is the word "obtuse" being used correctly here [line 5]? [more inside]
posted by matthewr on Nov 6, 2006 - 28 answers

What does one call something that contains the seeds of its own downfall? [more inside]
posted by viewofdelft on Oct 5, 2006 - 35 answers

What's the difference between "society" and "culture"? [more inside]
posted by imposster on Sep 24, 2006 - 5 answers

Looking for actual user of a personal HD videocamera. Your impressions, experience and some sample of your work would rule.
posted by elpapacito on Sep 7, 2006 - 5 answers

What are the best hard drives these days to work with high-def video files? [more inside]
posted by wubbie on Sep 2, 2006 - 10 answers

Is there a single word which means "negatively defined" (or "defined by its opposite" or "defined by not being other things" or "defined by the absence of something")? In English if you can manage (I cannot think of one), but maybe in another language? German perhaps?
posted by unknowncommand on Apr 7, 2006 - 22 answers

So what does "editor-at-large" mean? Curiously I can't find anything at all on Google or any online dictionary.
posted by cillit bang on Apr 5, 2006 - 9 answers

When did the word "insurgent" become main stream? [more inside]
posted by kechi on Mar 24, 2006 - 20 answers

A long time ago, I was given to understand that there was a German word to denote "the sheer cussedness of things"... [more inside]
posted by Chrischris on Mar 1, 2006 - 14 answers

What is the ideal word in the English language that means torn between two equally wonderful/terrible things? A friend of mine suggested yesterday this word was ambivalence, but I am not satisfied with that. [more inside]
posted by Happydaz on Oct 23, 2005 - 58 answers

Is there an antonym to 'sediment'? [more inside]
posted by PurplePorpoise on Aug 10, 2005 - 40 answers

What makes something melodramatic? I have an idea of its definition, based on context; but would never use this word, since I'm not exactly sure -- what does it mean to you? I've known people who use the term to mean something like dramatic or overly dramatic or emotional, over-wrought or even hysterical. So, okay, dramatic; but why mellow? [more inside]
posted by Rash on May 24, 2005 - 16 answers

You learn a new word, and suddenly you see that word everywhere. Or you have a new experience, and suddenly it seems the media is filled with other people talking about that same experience. Is there a word for this phenomenon?
posted by Badmichelle on Mar 29, 2005 - 27 answers

What does "krelboyne" mean? The smart kids in the gifted class on the show Malcolm in the Middle are called that. I've googled to no avail. [more, in the middle] [more inside]
posted by littlegirlblue on Feb 1, 2005 - 7 answers

English language question: what is the difference between intern/internship and trainee/traineeship? [+] [more inside]
posted by elgilito on Jan 28, 2005 - 18 answers

Explain to me, what is "production" in music? [MI] [more inside]
posted by Skyanth on Jan 4, 2005 - 21 answers

Edwardian slang. I'm in the midst of an Upstairs Downstairs marathon and the daughter of the house keeps using a word that sounds like "deevee" and apparently means something like "cool." I've googled (hard when you don't know the spelling) and gone through online dictionaries of Victorian and Edwardian slang, but no luck on what it means or the derivation. Can anyone enlighten me?
posted by helcat on Jan 1, 2005 - 22 answers

Pronunciation/Definition Filter: The "word" merc. (+) [more inside]
posted by mygothlaundry on Dec 17, 2004 - 21 answers

I'm listening to some Public Enemy MP3s and it has ocurred to me that I don't know, nor have I ever known, what "cold lampin'" means or refers to. Anyone?
posted by archimago on Jul 15, 2004 - 12 answers

What does "normative" mean? Is it a useful word? I only ever see it used in obscure, academic writing, which makes me suspect it's worthless. How is it different from "normal"? My dictionary says it means, "Of, relating to, or prescribing a norm or standard: normative grammar." That sounds like "normal" to me, so why not just say "normal"? Can someone give me some clear sentences that use the word -- sentences that are not written in post-modern, complit speak? Can one use "normative" meaningfully in a sentence about real-world things, like butter, eggs or bricks?
posted by grumblebee on May 21, 2004 - 24 answers

What, exactly, is "riding the clutch"? [more inside] [more inside]
posted by crunchburger on Feb 19, 2004 - 16 answers

What does the suffix "a' go-go" mean? You see it everywhere, attached to all sorts of things. [more inside]
posted by tirade on Jan 11, 2004 - 9 answers