1. Cogito

    Cogito Former Mod, Retired Supporter Contributor

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    Word of the Week Suggestions and Feedback

    Discussion in 'Word Mechanics' started by Cogito, Jul 29, 2010.

    Please post any suggestions, praise, and other glowing comments for the Word of the Week here.
     
  2. Chudz

    Chudz New Member

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    I enjoy word of the day/week type stuff. Thanks for starting this up. May I suggest by way of response, that we post our own sentences using the current word?

    My five year old son was under the crotchet that money did really grow on trees.

    Schadenfreude :D!!!


    Edited to add:
    1 - Thanks Cogito for fixing it so the word won't get buried
    2 - Whoever posted Schadenfreude - Too funny.
     
  3. minstrel

    minstrel Leader of the Insquirrelgency Supporter Contributor

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    Darn. This was on its way to being a nice, relaxing thread, and then Chudz went and put a ton of pressure on me.

    Here goes: The word "crotchet" is prominently featured in Quiggum's Guide to Common Crotchets, which is a book I made up for the purposes of this sentence.
     
  4. Manav

    Manav New Member

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    Thanks Maia, just the kind of exercise I need. And I like the idea of posting a sentence of our own using the word... will help us remember the word.

    He was crotchety enough to give up medicine and pursue a career in music.
     
  5. natsuki

    natsuki Active Member

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    May I ask how this word of the week works?
    I don't know what it is, but I reckon it is something to improve the vocabulary. Am I right?
     
  6. Manav

    Manav New Member

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    This is the comment thread of the original thread (https://www.writingforums.org/showthread.php?threadid=32898&goto=lastpost) posted by Maia.
     
  7. natsuki

    natsuki Active Member

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  8. JTheGreat

    JTheGreat New Member

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    That was me :D. I love that word. It's so... German-ish.
     
  9. Islander

    Islander Contributor Contributor

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    Sometimes he would have a crotchet, and use an obscure word in an archaic meaning, confusing everyone around him.
     
  10. mammamaia

    mammamaia nit-picker-in-chief Contributor

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    'twas a great idea to use this thread as a fun follow-up to the wotw... thanks, chudz!

    enjoy yourselves, kids!

    love and hugs, 'mamma' maia
     
  11. Nervous1st

    Nervous1st New Member

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    This is great, thank you!


    She was an eccentric character, with crotchet opinions and tastes.

    This is a new word for me, I hope it's right.

    Also, can I make a sugggestion? Could you explain the subtle meanings that differentiate one word from another. Even though I know the meaning of both, I'm sometimes confused as to which word to use when. For example, why would you use the word strewn and not scattered? Curt and not rude? Angelic and Cherubic?

    These are just examples of the top of my head, does anyone else have this trouble? Is this a lesson you might have time to include? (I know I'm pushing the friendship xoxoxo) :redface:
     
  12. Manav

    Manav New Member

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    Yes, I have this trouble all the time, specially since my English vocabulary is limited. I am, most of the time, overwhelmed by the number of synonyms provided by Microsoft Words. I do consult my dictionary and use the word which I think is the most suitable, but I am never sure, specially when the word I decide to use is a new word to me. So, yeah, I join you in requesting Maia to give this extra info..... as in giving us some synonyms and explaining the subtle difference in meaning. Thanks in advance maia :)
     
  13. mammamaia

    mammamaia nit-picker-in-chief Contributor

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    sorry, but it's not... you seem to be using the noun 'crotchet' as an adjective there, to modify 'opinions and tastes' when the adjective form of the word is 'crotchety'...

    since synonyms of the noun form would be 'eccentricity, whimsy, quirk, oddity' and such, you should be able to see why it doesn't work as you used it...

    and the problem with using the proper form in that sentence is that while 'crotchety opinions' might work, with 'tastes' it's not going to make sense to most readers, since that adjective is mostly used in its 'grouchy' meaning, which is generally applied to a person...

    what you're asking wouldn't work in concert with the wotw thread itself, since only one word is being offered there, for you to explore further on your own, if you want to know more about it... the thread is intended as a 'trigger' to motivate you to look up 'new-to-you' words and learn ways to use them, not as a tutorial...

    there are so many different words that each weekly entry could be confused with, how could i possibly cover them all, since what you most often confuse it with is not going to be the same word everyone else confuses it with?... but if you ask specific questions in this thread, i'll do my best to answer them...

    what i can do easily enough in the wotw section is include a few of the most closely-related synonyms... sorry i didn't think of that... thanks for the suggestion!

    i hope this will help some...

    love and hugs, maia
     
  14. Loaded-Dice

    Loaded-Dice New Member

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    As an Englishman and a player of both the guitar and piano, crotchet has and will always mean a quarter note. To use it any other way is sacrilege!!

    It's equally amusing and interesting to find this word that I had always associated with sheet music has multiple connotations. You could say the word being used for another meaning is a crotchet itself.
     
  15. mammamaia

    mammamaia nit-picker-in-chief Contributor

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    an amusingly valid point, ld... 'good on ya!' as my oz-lander friends would say...

    hugs, m
     
  16. natsuki

    natsuki Active Member

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    The water was insalubrious, having a sharp smell and a brownish coloration.

    There is a similar word in portuguese "insalubre" and the meaning is basically the same, but I have never used it, so I don't know if my sentence is correct.
     
  17. Chudz

    Chudz New Member

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    Surrounded by a pack of ravenous wolves, Carl came to the conclusion that he was in a rather insalubrious situation.
     
  18. mammamaia

    mammamaia nit-picker-in-chief Contributor

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    well done, both o' yez!
     
  19. Nervous1st

    Nervous1st New Member

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    My son’s primary school have banned insalubrious foods from their menu, including lollies and cakes.
     
  20. Cogito

    Cogito Former Mod, Retired Supporter Contributor

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    The planet's atmosphere, although not imminently life threatening, was insalubrious with long term exposure.
     
  21. mammamaia

    mammamaia nit-picker-in-chief Contributor

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    here's a fun question forya...

    ignoring the actual definition, what does the sound of this word make you think of?

    [inanity is both tolerated and encouraged! ;-) ]
     
  22. Cogito

    Cogito Former Mod, Retired Supporter Contributor

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    It sounds like it could mean dry, lacking a moist lubricant.

    Now get your minds out of the gutter, guys!
     
  23. Chudz

    Chudz New Member

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    To me, it sounds unsavory. As in, the Mayor is of insalubrious character, as was confirmed by Mitzi the dancehall girl.

    Of course that's just my opinion and not a true reflection upon my Mayor, whom I don't know. Hmm, acutally, I don't know if my Mayor is a man or a woman, I reckon I should look into that.
     
  24. Islander

    Islander Contributor Contributor

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    That's very insalubrious of you. ;)
     
  25. Loaded-Dice

    Loaded-Dice New Member

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    Insalubrious. Wrong thread?! :p

    Hah, you moved it just as I hit submit.
     

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