words for the wordless
- An Unicorn
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words for the wordless
This is a quozzy-resurrection of the thread I started on the other board those many years ago, because I am still finding Things That Need Words.
NOW, LET US LICK THE EGG
- An Unicorn
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Re: words for the wordless
1. The linguistic phenomenon of literally invoking an idiom that has become nearly (but not entirely) obsolete in its classical sense to the extent that the lay person might not know it's the actual origin of the phrase.
For instance, I watched a video of an organist literally pulling out all the stops and then deafening himself because playing all the instruments fortissimo at the same time is very loud and awful.
For instance, I watched a video of an organist literally pulling out all the stops and then deafening himself because playing all the instruments fortissimo at the same time is very loud and awful.
NOW, LET US LICK THE EGG
Re: words for the wordless
I like words where you only have the negative form left, and whatever it's negating is long since lost
Re: words for the wordless
Like gormless
Re: words for the wordless
Heh!An Unicorn wrote: ↑Mon May 24, 2021 3:18 am 1. The linguistic phenomenon of literally invoking an idiom that has become nearly (but not entirely) obsolete in its classical sense to the extent that the lay person might not know it's actual origin of the phrase.
For instance, I watched a video of an organist literally pulling out all the stops and then deafening himself because playing all the instruments fortissimo at the same time is very loud and awful.
Re: words for the wordless
its not though is it
Re: words for the wordless
he's lost his gorm but found his gruntles
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Re: words for the wordless
Would "overwhelm" count? Since apparently "whelm" was once a word but now has zero currency on its own without over.
NOW, LET US LICK THE EGG
Re: words for the wordless
Maybe but also maybe underwhelm's simultaneous existence disqualifies it
Re: words for the wordless
I am adequately whelmed
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Re: words for the wordless
ungrunted
Re: words for the wordless
Scrutable
- An Unicorn
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- An Unicorn
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Re: words for the wordless
The Credible Shrinking Man and The Visible Man are bets films.