Nouns are words that refer to an entity, quality, state, action, or concept.
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votes
3answers
107 views
Noun version of 'Compel'? [closed]
I want to say a word 'compellance' or 'compelation', but I don't know what the correct word is.
3
votes
2answers
106 views
Hypernym for “conjunction” and “disjunction”
Is there a hypernym for conjunction and disjunction, in their logical senses? Just using "junction" doesn't seem right to me.
0
votes
1answer
69 views
“Serenity” vs. “sereneness” [closed]
Are these interchangeable, or is there a semantic difference between them? When should I use serenity vs. sereneness?
0
votes
2answers
94 views
How to refer to people and how they're related?
I'm trying to document an issue with an application, and I'd like to refer to the people using different words regardless of the relationship (father, son, etc.) being used.
To better explain the ...
0
votes
1answer
81 views
Plural form for noun preceding another noun [duplicate]
I'm working on a web service and we need to create new menu section, which should list entities to configurate different shops' parameters. Which form of this phrase is right in this case and why?
...
3
votes
4answers
209 views
Religious use of “exegete”
I've noticed quite a number of religious professionals of late have used phrases such as "let's exegete this text" or "we need to exegete Paul's meaning here." Of course, an exegete is one skilled in ...
3
votes
5answers
217 views
How can I refer to a nose in a pleasing manner?
I'm trying to figure out a word that describes a nose in a pleasing way. I.e.
The smell of freshly baked bread wafted into the __ of passers by.
Nasal cavity — too scientific, beak/snout — too ...
0
votes
2answers
81 views
What is the meaning of “gather way” in “The idea gathered way”?
As far as I know "gather way" means "to attain headway" in navigation. So I believe this is a kind of idiom or something like that.
I just found this sentence with no context, so I don't know if you ...
4
votes
2answers
385 views
“Register” vs. “registry”
What's the difference in meaning between “register” and “registry”? Can both be used interchangeably when talking about an official (public) list of items, records?
4
votes
3answers
140 views
Collection of mathematical formulas
What is the correct term for a collection of mathematical formulas in the form of a (small) handbook? I'm looking for a translation of the German noun “Formelsammlung”.
Several dictionarys suggest ...
2
votes
1answer
75 views
Can we use “commiseration” and “condolence” interchangeably?
On what occasions can we use these terms and are they perfect synonym for each other to use interchangeably?
Can we say to someone who has lost a friend "our commiseration to ..."?
3
votes
1answer
80 views
Etymology of “cronyism”
Cronyism probably comes from Greek khronios ("long-lasting") which has a sense of "old friend". But how is it connected with today's meaning?
2
votes
4answers
134 views
How should one make “man in the middle” plural?
Usually, when a phrase acts as a single word, the noun in the phrase gets made plural. For instance, "mother in law" becomes "mothers in law" when made plural.
When discussing "man in the middle" ...
2
votes
1answer
80 views
Why do we brew beer but make wine?
Why not brew wine and make beer? Non native speaker so I can't fully discern the difference.
Thanks.
6
votes
4answers
97 views
What countries use “bond” to refer to a security deposit?
I run a vacation rental and require renters to pay me a $400 refundable security deposit. A customer from Australia was confused by this and when I explained it, they said "oh, in my country that is a ...
-2
votes
1answer
99 views
0
votes
2answers
68 views
“Precondition” vs. “prerequisite”
In conclusion, security is the precondition of political freedom and political freedom is the prerequisite for economic freedom.
Do precondition and prerequisite mean the same in the above? Is ...
0
votes
5answers
383 views
“Taste” is to “flavor” as “touch” and “sight” are to what?
For the senses, we have:
flavor for taste
aroma/odor/scent for smell
sound for hearing
____? for touch/feel
____? for sight/see
So one tastes a flavor, smells an aroma, hears a sound, feels a(n) ...
3
votes
3answers
195 views
“New” is to “novelty” as “archaic” is to…?
Is there a noun form of the word "archaic"? The closest word I can think of is "old-fashionedness" but it seems rather clumsy.
-2
votes
2answers
115 views
“hanging on the rope of”
I'm looking for two single words, a verb and a noun, with similar content, which could be best inserted in these sentences:
In some countries workers are entirely _______ 1 of/to/on their ...
1
vote
1answer
133 views
deceit vs deception
There seems to be a boundary between these concepts, but I can't quite work out where it is. Camouflage and mimicry are deceptions; telling untruths is deceitful.
In common usage we would say, 'The ...
0
votes
2answers
108 views
Use of “frequency” in “decrease the frequency a customer makes purchases from the site”
This doesn't read well and I'm not sure if this is correct:
Shipping fees can reduce the number of items a customer purchases, and they can decrease the frequency a customer makes purchases from ...
-1
votes
1answer
47 views
What is the difference between “Distribution Worker” and “Distributing Worker”?
I cannot differentiate when I should use a noun like "distribution" as an adjective to another noun, or when should I use an "-ing" participle as an adjective. Could you please clarify the differences ...
2
votes
2answers
184 views
9
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2answers
266 views
A word for this cramp-like sensation
I'm trying to look for this word that describes this sensation that you sometimes get on your body most commonly on the lower limbs when it's stayed in the same position or put under pressure for a ...
0
votes
1answer
140 views
What is this time describing noun called? [duplicate]
A noun for when something happened is occasion. A noun for how long something took is duration.
But how would you describe an event that happened at a certain time after an occasion?
Example:
The ...
3
votes
1answer
64 views
Can something “hold a property”
In academic writing, it is common to refer to or prove properties about the main object of an article.
If I prove a property for (some object), I know I can use the phrase:
Property X holds for ...
0
votes
2answers
583 views
Does the word “Vaccum” exist?
If yes, does it have the same meaning of vacuum?
Ref:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vacuum
http://www.vaccum.org/
Both the sites define the same meaning, but the spelling differs.
Some ...
3
votes
1answer
466 views
Use (or non-use) of articles before abstract nouns
I know I have asked a similar question before but this time I have examples taken from COCA and they do puzzle me. I would love to hear explanations from native speakers.
The following (incomplete) ...
2
votes
4answers
104 views
“Distribution worker” vs. “distributed worker” [closed]
I cannot differentiate the meanings of the two words. Could you please clarify?
In general, when should I use a noun (distribution) or an adjective (distributed) for verbs similar to distribute, ...
0
votes
1answer
129 views
Is it “fewer than one person” or “less than one person”? [duplicate]
I have been under the impression that the distinction between fewer and less was with countable vs. uncountable nouns. But I've just encountered the claim that it's plural vs. singular. Which is it? ...
0
votes
3answers
175 views
What's a more sophisticated word for “gadget”? [closed]
I'm looking for a word that isn't tacky like gadget, but that describes interesting and novel technological items.
1
vote
4answers
140 views
Difference between “delight” and “delightful” [closed]
I am wondering if there is really a difference between delight and delightful.
I would like to make a title for a French cooking app and was thinking of this:
MyApp - Homemade delightful French ...
2
votes
2answers
126 views
Is the word “dorm” acceptable in a thesis?
I'm writing a thesis about students living in dormitories and I would like to know if a dorm is an acceptable expression for a dormitory?
I don't live in GB nor in USA and the thesis is neither ...
-1
votes
2answers
55 views
Is “rightsayer” a word? [closed]
Is "rightsayer" a word that describes someone that believes themselves to always be right?
-1
votes
3answers
172 views
What's a word (noun) that means a particularly hard and difficult to solve puzzle? [closed]
Think the context would be say in a movie our heros have got into the bad guy's base, and there's this rubiks cube like puzzle object they have to solve, which is especially difficult to solve it's a ...
0
votes
2answers
154 views
It is common to call washing machines “washers”? [closed]
According to Wikipedia:
A washing machine (laundry machine, washing machine, clothes washer, or washer) is a machine to wash laundry, such as clothing and sheets.
I think some washing machines ...
1
vote
4answers
138 views
What word would best be used to describe an entity that “cancels” something?
I am writing some code for an application that initiates an asynchronous action and returns an object that can be used to cancel the action before completion.
However, I am having difficulty naming ...
0
votes
0answers
105 views
Meaning of “flossie” in Australian English [closed]
For a translation I am doing, I need to know what the following term of endearment means in Australian English: flossie.
4
votes
6answers
548 views
What would you call a group of people who don't mind their own business?
Scenario: You're building a model in your room. You've been building something incredibly intrinsic and you don't want to stop until it's finished. Your father comes in and begins to scold you for ...
2
votes
4answers
94 views
Should “shape” be plural in “the shape and dimensions of the skyscrapers”?
In the following sentence:
The great cities have been built with no regard for us. The shape and dimensions of the skyscrapers depend entirely on the necessity of obtaining the maximum income per ...
1
vote
2answers
610 views
When to use conclusion and conclusions in a scientific article or report?
I am writing a scientific report in English. For the final part, should I use conclusion or conclusions? I am a bit confused because in my memory it's an uncountable noun. But I saw many journal ...
0
votes
0answers
195 views
Feel and Feeling [closed]
Can "feel" be synonymous to "feeling" and also be used interchangeably without changing the meaning in this context?
As "feel" is also classified as a "noun" in Artha and other dictionaries. Here is ...
2
votes
3answers
117 views
Choice of articles: the reduction/ a reduction /reduction
I am often confused about the use of articles before abstract nouns. Are the following three sentences all grammatically correct? If so, what differences are there, if any, in their meaning or nuance?
...
2
votes
2answers
425 views
How to obtain a list of compound words as nouns?
Example: polar bear
I can only detect polar as an adjective and bear as a noun. But polar bear is actually a "noun". How do I obtain a free list of such?
Another example: hot dog.
1
vote
1answer
167 views
How do I obtain a list of compound words as nouns? [duplicate]
How do I obtain a list of compound words as nouns?
Example: polar bear. I can only detect polar as an adjective and bear as a noun. But polar bear is actually a noun. How do I obtain a free list of ...
4
votes
6answers
487 views
What is the term for young adult male/female (aged 18 to 25)?
When writing a book and referring to a female and male aged 18–25, what term would be most appropriate? Boy and girl seem too young, whereas man and woman seem too old.
Example sentence:
A ...
4
votes
3answers
97 views
Usage of “flavour” vs. “version”
Software systems undergo versioning when changes are made to them.
E.g.: "Windows 8, Windows 7, Windows RT etc. are some popular versions of the Windows Operating System."
Similarly, some software ...
25
votes
5answers
1k views
Is there a term for grammatical mistakes as a result of trying too hard?
Today, I learned the term hyperforeignism after writing that I was drinking a latté and then stopping to wonder why I was putting a diacritical mark on the "e".
This reminded me of other language ...
3
votes
4answers
185 views
“Majority” is to “plurality” as “minority” is to what?
This analogy may not be quite accurate but I think I can get my point across with it.
I was reviewing some obesity statistics:
Obese: 35.9%
Overweight but not obese: 33.3%
Neither overweight nor ...
