Questions regarding the associated or underlying meaning of a word, in addition to its primary definition
20
votes
9answers
9k views
What is the difference between “English” and “British”?
As an American, I naively think of British and English as exact synonyms. I know I'm wrong, but I just don't know in what way. I am vaguely aware that people in the UK hold strong opinions about one ...
10
votes
4answers
5k views
“Plausible” vs. “possible”
I am looking to find the difference between possible and plausible.
Here is what Apple's dictionary gives for each word:
Possible: Able to be done; within the power or capacity of someone or ...
5
votes
6answers
2k views
“Told” vs. “said to” somebody
I told him that you hate him
I said to him that you hate him
I was choosing between these two options, and I can't help thinking about the subtle differences.
For example, "I told him ...
3
votes
3answers
6k views
“to a degree” vs. “to an extent”
Is there a measurable difference in meaning between the phrases "to a degree" and "to an extent" (or "to some degree" and "to some extent")?
Examples:
To [some degree / some extent] that is a ...
10
votes
3answers
524 views
Why are nouns sometimes pejorative when used attributively?
Certain nouns can often be used as noun adjuncts in place of a corresponding adjective, with no change in literal meaning, where:
The noun is not pejorative when used nominatively by itself.
Nor is ...
10
votes
6answers
2k views
What did Steve Jobs mean by “Technology married with Liberal Arts” in his last speech?
The Asahi, Japan’s leading newspaper quoted the following famous closing words of Steve Jobs’ in his last speech at the iPad 2 event in March 2011 in its popular editorial column, “Vox populi, vox ...
5
votes
2answers
682 views
Why do we call snail mail “snail mail”?
Why do we call snail mail "snail mail"?
So by default mail will refer to email?
5
votes
6answers
2k views
What connotation do these words describing “someone who straightforwardly expresses their” opinion have?
The adjective ones I have heard recently are
forward
straightforward
forthcoming
frank
I was wondering if each of them has positive, negative or neutral meaning?
What are other similar terms ...
4
votes
3answers
17k views
Does the phrase “fine with me” have a negative connotation?
I have always thought that you could answer "it's ok with me" or "it's fine with me" when you agree with something that somebody proposed, like a meeting time.
But apparently the phrase can have a ...
1
vote
3answers
579 views
“Endorse” vs. “condone”
What is the difference in meaning/connotation between the two words? Is endorse "stronger", more positive?
Also, endorse is to endorsement as condone is to what? Is there a noun counterpart?
9
votes
7answers
520 views
“Software craftsman” as complimentary term for programmer
Is software craftsman a complimentary term for a programmer or is it just neutral?
9
votes
3answers
366 views
How much destruction should be in my mind's eye when I picture a city being “sacked”?
I've been reading some early medieval history lately, and much of the narrative, of course, encompasses warfare, which seems to have been almost ubiquitous in those times. Anyway, in these histories ...
8
votes
3answers
1k views
How did the term “Mistress” take on two rather different connotations?
One meaning of the word is "female master." The Latin equivalent would be Domina.
Another connotation is "lover." Not quite what one associates with "Domina."
Or was there a connection between the ...
8
votes
2answers
2k views
“Also” and “as well” for conversational context
"Also" and "as well" seem to be quite similar in meaning, but I'd like to know shades in its meaning and usage, especially for everyday conversational language. What one will sound more natural and ...
7
votes
6answers
6k views
'Expired' or 'Passed away'?
When someone dies, do we say they expired or passed away?
Does the word expired give any more respect when used? Or less respect than passed away?
4
votes
4answers
5k views
Meaning of “have an agenda”
What does it mean when someone says he has an agenda? Is there a negative connotation to agenda? If there is, then why and what is a word that means the same thing but has a positive connotation?
3
votes
4answers
290 views
Do people really think “muslin” has something to do with “Muslim”?
My boss just floored me with a doozy of an assertion: he had me change someone's password, which contained the word "muslin", because "you can't go calling people Muslims in this day and age".
Yeah, ...
3
votes
2answers
308 views
How to call attention to “I” without “I myself” or the pretentious “even I”?
I find that in persuasive conversation, whether written or oral, it is sometimes useful to draw attention to the "I" in the sentence, giving the connotation that you are confessing or conceding to ...
3
votes
1answer
200 views
What does “undoable” mean?
When something is undoable, does it mean that it has the ability to be reverted back to its previous state or does it mean that it's not feasible?
I broke something on my computer and a fix is ...
2
votes
3answers
541 views
Is the connotation of “naughty” always sexual?
Does the word "naughty" always have a sexual connotation if it is used between adults?
I'd like to use it in a notification-text of a smartphone app, e.g.: No naughty apps selected, where it's ...
2
votes
1answer
1k views
Does “peculiar” imply “unusual”/“hard to expect”?
When something is called peculiar or having a peculiarity what does that mean? Does it just mean it has some specific features or does it mean that those specific features are unusual, not normally ...
1
vote
4answers
1k views
Does “gay” necessarily mean male homosexual?
I was under the impression that gay always refers to a male homosexual, though sometimes I see this term used to describe female homosexuals (i.e. lesbians) as well. Is it correct usage? Does it ...
1
vote
1answer
68 views
The condition for saying “You’re the door on the right.” etc. and its construction
This question is a spin-off from “Is you’re the door on the right. grammatically correct?” . After the original question, some ideas came to me, about its conditions and construction. I opened this ...
0
votes
1answer
200 views
Does “end up” have a negative connotation? [closed]
Maybe not, as some of the example usages in here, but it still has a negative feel to me. Is there some positive way that can be used instead?
