68 posts tagged with language and words. (View popular tags)
Displaying 1 through 50 of 68. Subscribe:
What is the name of the phenomenon where words lose their original meaning once they take on an off-color meaning? For instance isn't it queer that nobody describes themselves as "gay" anymore unless they are homosexual or are deliberately being provocative? [more inside]
posted by cross_impact
on Nov 28, 2009 -
16 answers
Is there a word for a person who has been subpoenaed? If two people are subpoenaed, they are called co-...? They're not co-defendants. Is there an equivalent?
posted by streetdreams
on Nov 19, 2009 -
14 answers
I bookmarked a site years ago that was all about people listing their favorite words - sort of like "delicious" but for word nerds. Does anyone have a clue what this is? thanks
posted by debu
on Nov 15, 2009 -
7 answers
I'm looking for a somewhat poetic word or phrase (in any language) that describes "a good thing that's happening too soon" or "a good thing that happened before I was ready for it" or something like that. [more inside]
posted by ferociouskitty
on Nov 3, 2009 -
12 answers
Grammarians: Is it OK to take liberties with the word "win" when publicizing a contest or draw? [more inside]
posted by wackybrit
on Oct 5, 2009 -
15 answers
Does a comprehensive etymological dictionary exist that crosses languages? [more inside]
posted by Tchad
on Sep 3, 2009 -
11 answers
How do I become a better Scrabble player? [more inside]
posted by anastasiav
on Aug 14, 2009 -
24 answers
"Pea green pink Irish Catholic" - what, if anything, does this phrase mean and/or refer to? [more inside]
posted by MaudB
on Jun 24, 2009 -
17 answers
Is there a term for words that seem like they should be antonyms but are actually synonymous? For example: Caregiver & Caretaker. [more inside]
posted by Saxon Kane
on May 17, 2009 -
17 answers
Is there a word or term for someone who exaggerates things?
Is there a word for someone who craves/needs sympathy? [more inside]
posted by mooreeasyvibe
on May 13, 2009 -
53 answers
Which are the 100 most important words for travellers? [more inside]
posted by Black Spring
on Mar 24, 2009 -
41 answers
Can you help out with some (easy) wordplay? [more inside]
posted by BorgLove
on Feb 23, 2009 -
30 answers
Why do we say "female child" or "male child," but reverse the word order for "adult female" and "adult male?"
posted by arcticwoman
on Feb 15, 2009 -
19 answers
Why are they "words" in English, but "root with suffixes" in Inuit? [more inside]
posted by Flunkie
on Jan 15, 2009 -
15 answers
Does anybody know if people react more strongly to certain personal pronouns than others? [more inside]
posted by CollectiveMind
on Jan 15, 2009 -
8 answers
Is there some linguistic or cultural explanation for mistakenly calling Firefox FoxFire? [more inside]
posted by odinsdream
on Jan 7, 2009 -
31 answers
This is my question. There are many like it, but this one is mine. [more inside]
posted by als129
on Dec 17, 2008 -
18 answers
As a result of my poor vocabulary, I use the term 'as a result', 'therefore,' and other like words far too often. Help me state my conclusions with eloquence! [more inside]
posted by mrgreyisyelling
on Dec 3, 2008 -
26 answers
Is the English language stagnating or do dictionaries just suck? [more inside]
posted by Ookseer
on Dec 1, 2008 -
19 answers
Is there a word (maybe in German?) that means, "feeling like you are exactly who you want to be"? [more inside]
posted by fiercecupcake
on Nov 8, 2008 -
17 answers
What is the origin of the phrase "[you] damn kids get off my lawn!" [more inside]
posted by epersonae
on Oct 17, 2008 -
21 answers
What's a Halusian Gulp? And what does it have to do with fighter pilots? [more inside]
posted by blahblahblah
on Sep 25, 2008 -
8 answers
How is fureai pronounced?
posted by coizero
on Sep 10, 2008 -
11 answers
I am looking for interesting uses of the prefix 'mu' (無) in Japanese. I want to find an example of mu's general use that attains to its meaning as -less or an absence of. The example I have currently, 無線 'musen' meaning 'wireless', is a little boring. [more inside]
posted by 0bvious
on Aug 8, 2008 -
14 answers
I'm looking for words which can have different meanings, depending on how they are pronounced. [more inside]
posted by booksprite
on Jun 2, 2008 -
25 answers
Where can I find a good online database that gives me similar meanings instead of just synonyms? [more inside]
posted by any major dude
on May 21, 2008 -
11 answers
I need a replacement word for the word clusterf#$k. [more inside]
posted by gummo
on Apr 17, 2008 -
64 answers
Who's "stupider"? [more inside]
posted by macrowave
on Mar 3, 2008 -
26 answers
Is there a word for: expecting to feel grief or ache of conscience and then not feeling it? [more inside]
posted by coizero
on Jan 23, 2008 -
22 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
Does anyone know the German word that means, roughly, 'accidental expert'? [more inside]
posted by jack_mo
on Sep 1, 2007 -
7 answers
Is there a name for phrases (or sometimes words) that have lost their previous specific/narrow/jargon meanings and are now used generally in a wide variety of situations with little or no knowledge about their prior usage? Are there lists of them anywhere with the phrases and explanations? [more inside]
posted by andoatnp
on Jul 30, 2007 -
18 answers
What term was used to describe a person with a photographic memory prior photography? [more inside]
posted by brookeb
on May 20, 2007 -
18 answers
I need to find the word meaning "a word with mixed Latin and Greek roots." It's not just "hybrid word," but a word that specifically indicated Greek and Latin origins. I've had several people remark that they know it but can't think of it, and my search skills have failed thusfar.
posted by luftmensch
on May 6, 2007 -
10 answers
What is the function of gendered articles of nouns in (German|Spanish|etc)? [more inside]
posted by beerbajay
on Mar 24, 2007 -
21 answers
Spelling filter: Why do I ALWAYS struggle with the same few particular words? [more inside]
posted by allkindsoftime
on Mar 20, 2007 -
44 answers
Do cultures outside the UK have a concept of "scrumping"? [more inside]
posted by brighton
on Mar 5, 2007 -
44 answers
About unisex terms: What is the reasoning behind them? By this I mean, for example, flight attendant instead of steward or stewardess, server instead of waiter or waitress, etc. I suppose during the height of the feminist movement in the 70s it was probably claimed that it was sexist to use terms that specify gender. But I am scratching my head wondering what the logic would be behind this. After all, if you use a term to specify females (eg stewardess) then you are also specifying males (eg steward), so I fail to see how this would be sexist. Also, it strikes me as a very handy conversion to be able to specify gender in the same word as the title. Nowadays, we have two words.. so you might hear your neighbor say, "I went to see a female doctor yesterday" (indeed, I think this is a common one), so we are still specifying the sex, so why not use doctress? I'm just curious about why this trend towards unisex words is happening and the logic behind it because frankly, I fail to see any. Thanks for any thoughtful replies!
posted by dbooster
on Feb 22, 2007 -
95 answers
What are the best (free) online exercises to prepare for the GRE? [more inside]
posted by dead_
on Feb 9, 2007 -
6 answers
Is there a word for a thing that — until it is missing — is not fully valued, but that — once gone — is seen to be invaluable? [more inside]
posted by Alt F4
on Dec 31, 2006 -
24 answers
Is there a word for a sort of nostalgia or longing for the current moment? [more inside]
posted by exlotuseater
on Nov 13, 2006 -
14 answers
Is the word "obtuse" being used correctly here [line 5]? [more inside]
posted by matthewr
on Nov 6, 2006 -
28 answers
Is there a word for missing something that hasn't happened? Yearning for a future that can no longer come to fruition?
Extra bonus points if there's something in another language (especially Ancient Greek!).
posted by sam and rufus
on Nov 6, 2006 -
14 answers
What is the term for those little quotes that sometimes open books? [more inside]
posted by SansPoint
on Oct 20, 2006 -
11 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
Is there a word for when somebody does something completely illogical but does it in a perfectly logical manner?
posted by Skorgu
on Sep 26, 2006 -
22 answers
Where did the phrase "the shit hit the fan" originate from? My googling has revealed one claim that it is from 1930's jazz lingo, although no explanantion is given as to what it meant at the time, and another site gives a story that describes the origin that doesn't seem believable. (the last paragraph here: http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=shit
Does anyone know where the phrase came from?
Thanks!
posted by andoatnp
on Sep 26, 2006 -
8 answers
LanguageFilter: Cypriot. Cairene. Dubliner. These are beautiful, and I'd like more. Name some favourite or exotic words denoting city of origin or residence. And what is the word for this type of word? [more inside]
posted by poweredbybeard
on Aug 8, 2006 -
76 answers
Can someone explain a WF Buckley use of the word "yeomanry"? [more inside]
posted by zorro astor
on May 6, 2006 -
13 answers
What are some things that retain useless or vestigal features of earlier versions of the technology? [more inside]
posted by TurkeyMustard
on May 6, 2006 -
55 answers