An addition to the plethora of words

In a brief look towards the etymology of words it can be seen that on occasion a word can develop out of a phrase. A rather interesting example of which is:

Vulpine

This word's origin is an adjective pertaining to a likeness to a fox. However, from this an additional, and arguably more commonly used, definition has arisen. Cunning.

You may now have already come to the realisation as to which phase has caused this change in terminology. The phrase to which I elude is actually 'Crazy like a fox'. Its meaning being that a fox will act in an erratic manner to avoid harm and save it's self. So foxes are said to be cunning as acting crazy is part of a defence to out wit an assailant. Thus the phrase evolved becoming 'As cunning as a fox'. Or in the case of Blackadder "as cunning as a fox what used to be Professor of Cunning at Oxford University but has moved on, and is now working for the UN at the High Commission of International Cunning Planning".

To state 'you are as cunning as a fox' became a fox likeness and so cunning a synonym of vulpine.

With this new illumination on the orange creature, who may well be rummaging through your rubbish, I give credence to your next phrase. Could it too bring about a change in etymology?

Ed

A jovial word

As this blog has progressed it appears to have taken somewhat a negative slant always favoring the suggestion of derogatory words to help expand our social vernacular. So turning to a more hopeful note I give you:

Adroit

This is a complimentary adjective praising the expert or nimble use of one's hands or body. Thus a pianist could be said to be adroit or in deed t can be used to elude to a person's skill or ingenuity such as 'Lionel is an adroit footballer'.

So with the weather improving, especially for those heliophiles among us, I give you a positive word with which I hope will help you see the adroitness in others.

Ed

The Quinquennial Word

In order to enhance our current common parlance I give you this post. However, in expanding the plethora of words used in day to day correspondence I must avoid earlier admonitions suggesting such expansive use of unusual vocabulary can cause sophomania.

With this thought prominent in my mind I give you:

Unctuous

This is an adjective for someone or something that is overly smooth. Yet a secondary use, which is often adorned with a derogatory intonation, is that of someone who is excessively suave or smug. Hence the link to the earlier mention of sophomania which has an essence of smugness encompassed in it.

Thus you may use unctuous in order to comment on a slippery surface, to indicate someone's hubris mood or someone who is rather sophisticated.

With that I bid you farewell,

Ed

One more word

The aim of these posts is to be informative. Yet I wish them to be terse enough to keep you interested and hopefully intrigued enough to keep reading.

With that in mind I feel this word is rather apt.

Epigram.

This is a curt witty statement ending in an ingenious or clever twist of thought. However, the pressure now comes because I am required to produce an 'ingenious' ending in order to attain the level required by my high asperations.

Thus I put to you the idea that rules are made to be broken therefore suggestions are made to be ignored. Cliched ridden but also a useful mantra for those who are epically lathargic.

Just something to think about, or not if you are lazy.

Ed

Yet another word

As I read more and think actively about this blog I find myself being pickier as to what words to put forward.

Thus I think this word is rather relevant.

Fastidious.

This is a synonym of finicky and thus can be used to define someone who is very meticulous. So quite obviously you could use this word instead of the rather more crass phase often used which is to say that some one is 'anal'. If a person where to be overly precise with things. As is the ambition of this blog to move away from possibly offencive or boring colloquialisms towards the majestic use of an expansive vocabulary, fastidious is a perfect example.

Wishing you all sun, sea and books

Ed

Oh I do love sarcasm, or do I mean irony

It appears to have became a common phrase to say 'Only the English really understand satirical wit'. However occasions of late have caused me to question if we actually know ourselves.

The main reason I question this is the often liberal use of the word sarcasm to the extent that it has almost become a cliche.

Sarcasm is when appearing to praising something while insulting it. Such as 'Yes Sire you look wonderful' when in fact he is an grotesque amorphous blob. Now the case of saying 'Sure I'll do that washing up later' when in actual fact having no such intention is really a form of verbal irony.

So to clarify saying one thing and meaning another is irony yet an insulting meaning to a complement is sarcasm.

Yes the differences are subtle nonetheless they are still there.

For day to day life this may just be a fastidious flight of fancy, yet I urge you next time pause a moment just to query. Because of course without questions we would have no answers.

Yours incredulous as always

Ed

A few thoughts

My last post made me ponder, yes we all have our own ego but do we have a communal social ego and maybe further a social arrogance. It has been seen in the past that a community will boast superiority over another. I mean not just religions, for I wish not to go down that path, but also between those of different education. When I say education I do not just mean standered school learning, I more refer to what you learn beyond that. Yes it is cliched but you do learn something new every day even if it is something inconsequential like the score of a football match. From everything we read and hear we either choose to believe or dismiss. This decision in most cases does not even cross the conscious mind. For instance you would never listen to the news and then think 'I don't agree with that it didn't happen', unless you check your calendar and it happens to be the 1st of April. So with every bit of information you learn you are taking a point of view as to what is correct.

This is where I feel the arrogance comes in. With this increase in knowledge I feel we look back at our past selves and previous ages and think higher of current society thanks to those advances. Yet we always seams so short sighted as if the knowledge we have now is the be all and end all.

I like to think I do not fall into this trap, again a sign of arrogance, thanks to being a scientist. I deal every day with theories, not facts, theories as to what models best describe the world around us. A theory is just a guess never to be proved right but only surviving until proved wrong.

However following this way of thinking to the letter can prove rather depressing because you end up with the view that we know nothing and so have not advanced beyond those that went before as they too knew nothing. But that though is easily quelled as I write, or you read, this note. Its very existence proves our ability to create whether it be language, via which we communicate, or through the physical act of communication. Thanks to not just the internet but computers and electricity and even going back as far as to look at those who sourced and distributed the materials from which all those things were made. This sort of view of understanding, and to an extent thanking, all the things done and the people they are done by is one adopted by Taoists.

This is a view I think could make all of us a little less arrogant i.e. thinking less of ourselves by realising all the things those that came before us did put us where we are today.

With that thought lingering I bid you Adieu

Ed

Another Word

I found great joy in writing my last note and it has lead me to look to a plethora of reading materials in search of more. I am starting to notice the beauty of language available. The subtleties of certain turns of phrase, once lost on me are on bringing new found joy.
The word for today is Hubris
The description of which is akin to arrogance. As in it describes a state of over confidence in ones self or indeed an overindulged sense of pride.
Thus you could use the word to pitch back a contemporary who is excessively pleased with themselves. However this would be some what of a double edged sword if the retort to your saying 'You are being overtly hubris' were to be 'what is hubris?' because undoubtedly in this scenario it would draw a sly smile on your part. With this knowledge of you bettering your contemporary unwillingly your ego would grow and subsequently cause a possible self confidence bordering on hubris it's self. An ironic turn of events I am sure you could appreciate.
Yours ingenuously
Ed