Questions tagged [vocabulary]

The vocabulary tag should be used for questions discussing a multitude of words in a certain field. E.g., the vocabulary concerning money or the vocabulary concerning leatherworking.

Filter by
Sorted by
Tagged with
10 votes
4 answers
7k views

What did Lady Gaga mean when she sang that she's heard a "sine" from above?

In Lady Gaga's song featuring Elton John "Sine From Above", she sang that she has heard a "sine" from the sky. Sine is defined as the very famous mathematical function in Cambridge ...
0 votes
0 answers
16 views

A word(s) describing a person with control/power over an important aspect of others lives. They abuse that power to harm others and personal gain [duplicate]

I am in need of a word(s) or term(s)for a person who willingly, openly, and unapologetically abuses the power or influence they have over other peoples lives,more precisely; people who have control or ...
0 votes
0 answers
14 views

Difference between remain and maintain [migrated]

What's the difference between remain and maintain? Sentence 1: This research shows that Christmas remains a time of generous charitable giving. Sentence 2: Stephen Dunmore, the CEO of the Fundraising ...
0 votes
1 answer
45 views

Should I use until or before in this sentence? [duplicate]

Don't hire that guy before you check his references. Don't hire that guy until you check his references.
1 vote
2 answers
36 views

Facial recognition

Facial recognition is used with two very distinct meanings. One is to take photographic information and identify a person, the other is to find the presence of faces; for example a camera trying to ...
0 votes
7 answers
2k views

Word for "referring to common but not universal attributes of a group of people"?

I was recently out with friends and also with someone I didn't know too well. At some point during the night, I was imitating English spoken with a Mandarin speaker's accent for humorous effect, and ...
1 vote
0 answers
51 views

Word for the final instance of awarding a perpetual trophy

We have a perpetual trophy that has been awarded for almost four decades. The Award is being retired, and presented to a worthy recipient one last time. How do I refer to this instance of the awarding?...
4 votes
1 answer
191 views

Word request: Sensory words

I'm trying to gather a list of appropriate words that relate in analogous ways for 5 classical senses. Right now I think I've got: Eye/sight:ocular:optic:visual Ear/hearing:otic:aural:auditory Nose/...
1 vote
3 answers
19k views

How far (technically) is a "stone's throw?"

A "stone's throw" means a short distance. Questions: (1) How far--technically-- is a stone's throw in terms of its usage? (i.e., Can you use it for a few feet as well as a mile away?) (2) Is it ...
-1 votes
2 answers
68 views

What's the exact meaning of 'Temprist'?

I look for a word that describes a person who loves music, food, jokes, metaphorically getting high. I mean a person whose MOOD or Temper is usually good and cheerful. And it's better to be a slangy/...
1 vote
1 answer
118 views

What's the meaning of "sing'lar"?

And a mighty sing'lar and pretty place it is, as ever I saw in all the days of my life!" said Captain Jorgan, looking up at it. The term is mentioned in the first line of Charles Dickens's A ...
0 votes
1 answer
387 views

Is there a single word for two phrases which are synonymous with one another?

Is there a single concise word for two phrases which have the same or nearly the same meanings as one another? Lately, I have found myself Googling phrases like "loath to admit synonym" or &...
-1 votes
2 answers
40 views

What does "champion supporter" mean? [closed]

I've been studying English and found an expression champion supporter in the following sentence. Faced with a global audience, British television needs its champion supporters. Does the "...
2 votes
4 answers
9k views

Is there a word for the towel on a waiter's arm?

"Napkin" or "towel" seem so...ordinary. Is there a better word for it?
8 votes
4 answers
2k views

Does English have digraph GN that does not come from Norman (Old French)?

I noticed that in English the digraph GN appears in a strange way. Some examples I can find are the word stems -cogn-, -sign-, -lign-, all of which looks very similar to French counterparts. By this I ...
24 votes
7 answers
10k views

Why are black people referred to as "colored people"?

When someone calls a black person "a colored guy", I can't help but think about the question "are white people colorless? Isn't white a color too?"
0 votes
2 answers
99 views

Proper usage of the word “conducive” in some constructions

The most common and non-problematic use of this word is followed by “to” and a specific result, in a sentence like this: This environment is not conducive to good sleep. However, some other uses I’...
7 votes
1 answer
7k views

Distribution of slang term “opp”

I’m a teenager from Chicago. One slang term which is used by young people in my community rather often is “opp.” It is clearly derived from the stem “oppose,” and is basically short for opposition or ...
4 votes
2 answers
200 views

Etymology of 'Priscilla' to refer to a type of curtain

Squashed between Priscian and Priscillian in Merriam-Webster Online, there's a peculiar entry, priscilla. It's not just a Biblical name, it appears, but also some sort of curtain. priscilla: [noun - ...
3 votes
3 answers
2k views

Difference between "irascible", "fractious", "irritable" and "atrabilious"?

It seems that they can all mean "easily provoked to anger" irascible:Easily provoked to outbursts of anger; irritable. fractious:Irritable; argumentative; quarrelsome. irritable:1.Capable of being ...
1 vote
1 answer
59 views

A term (or phrase) for when a person tries to represent the rarest scenario as the most common

For context: This term or phrase is what it's called when a person (very often used in political debates) will try to take the rarest occurrence of any particular topic and present it as if it's the ...
9 votes
1 answer
1k views

What is the word for using one part of speech where another would be more grammatical?

There's a Greek word that means using the wrong part of speech somewhere in a sentence, as in: I don't know the who or the how or the when. Where "who", "how", and "when" are being used for nouns. ...
5 votes
1 answer
275 views

'bizzle' – a curious word - anyone come across it?

In his memoir Blessings in Disguise, Alec Guinness refers to a 'bizzle', evidently meaning a carpet-sweeper. He offers no explanation, as though it were a normal word. I can only guess that it derives ...
5 votes
1 answer
17k views

Is there a word for "the day after overmorrow" and "the day before ereyesterday"?

I know overmorrow (the day after tomorrow) and ereyesterday (the day before yesterday) themselves are obsolete alike. I would like to know whether English has ever had words for one day farther than ...
28 votes
6 answers
16k views

Attorney at law, is there any other kind?

I have wondered from time to time about the phrase "attorney at law." Are there other kinds of attorneys? Attorneys at arms? If not, why do we specify?
3 votes
2 answers
2k views

What do you call that annoying toddler that whines about everything?

You know that kid you see in a supermarket with his/her mom, and the kid is all like: "I don't like that", and starts to scream? What is a good word or slang term for that?
1 vote
4 answers
16k views

What is a song played at the end of a movie called?

At the end of some movies, there is a song to be played. Is there any word to call these songs? As an example "My Heart Will Go On" from Celine Dion at the of Titanic.
0 votes
1 answer
857 views

Are villainize and vilify exact synonyms?

Villainize and vilify are two extremely similar verbs... vilify: verb (used with object),vil·i·fied, vil·i·fy·ing. to speak ill of; defame; slander. Obsolete. to make vile. villainize: verb (used ...
1 vote
2 answers
651 views

Is there any single word to name the people who are in an exodus?

We know about the situation called - exodus. But is there any single word to name the people who are in that exodus? I mean, is there any single word to describe people who are leaving a place in mass ...
6 votes
3 answers
3k views

What does "consound" mean?

Hello and happy holidays. While reading The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, I came across the expression "consound it" in Huck's dialogue parts. "Consound it, Tom Sawyer, you're just old pie, 'longside ...
0 votes
2 answers
53 views

Understanding phrasal verbs [closed]

My background: When I was 14 ,I got a C2 level degree in American English. Now I am 22 and I have forgotten so much vocabulary I can't have a conversation in English anymore. I have restarted studying ...
0 votes
1 answer
69 views

Word for a game being played on an event's periphery

If someone sets up a table at the edge of a conference room selling their wares, it could be described as a "stall" or maybe a "kiosk". But what if someone instead sets up ...
1 vote
2 answers
97 views

Is there a word for "Congratulating oneself or others, for behaving the way one ought to behave?"?

When I was young, a workmate convinced me that there was indeed a word which described the behaviour of someone who would congratulate themselves for behaving the way a person normally ought to, ...
0 votes
1 answer
205 views

Is "volume bar", "volume slider” and “volume rocker" the same thing on mobile phones?

I just came across the words from the site "https://www.androidpolice.com/gmail-mark-all-messages-read/", which indicate, as for me the same thing but by using different words in the article ...
8 votes
9 answers
37k views

What is a noun that means "the skill of being able to use technology efficiently?"

What is a noun that means "the skill of being able to use technology efficiently or easily?" Thanks
2 votes
3 answers
5k views

What is the stick, dug with young plants for support, called?

I am looking for the word/name that describes a stick dug along with young plants to support/direct the plant growth.
0 votes
4 answers
782 views

"To tame" for "to cultivate [vegetables, a land, etc.]" and "to domesticate (or farm) [poultry, fish, etc.]" in AmE

Harrap's New Shorter French and English dictionary Ed. 1985, defines both verbal and adjectival "tame" as Americanisms for respectively "to cultivate" and "cultivated", ...
3 votes
6 answers
5k views

"ignorance" can also mean a "willful disregard of something"?

I try to use the 2nd or 3rd definition of words (to slow down speed readers). However, I am not sure if "ignorance" has a 2nd definition. (common meaning) is "a lack of knowledge". With this meaning,...
5 votes
7 answers
32k views

Adjective for a person who enjoys taking care of their appearance

After a brief search over StackExchange I've decided to ask my own question. I'm looking for a word to describe someone who enjoys grooming themselves or taking care of their appearance, but without ...
2 votes
7 answers
3k views

What is the opposite of a "crown" (in the topographical sense)?

Streets are “crowned” (meaning slightly convex) to drain rainwater away from the center of the road and into the gutter. What would you call a surface that is slightly concave?
0 votes
2 answers
100 views

Civics: word for a representative's constituent who voted or will vote for them

In the U.S. as an example, a senator represents constituents -- the people in her area of representation. What's a word or short term for those constituents who voted for her? As a more concrete ...
1 vote
1 answer
92 views

“Preposterous” meaning directly linked to literal latin etymology?

In common English, I understand “preposterous” to mean abusrd/ridiculous/unlikely etc. The Latin literal translation, as I understand it, is to put something the wrong way round (such as a cart before ...
0 votes
1 answer
8k views

What is the difference between evangelism and evangelicalism? [closed]

What is the difference between the two? They seem so similar to me. In everyday speaking, can I use just one of them?
21 votes
9 answers
98k views

What's the difference between “bucket” and “pail”?

What is the difference between bucket and pail? Is there a distinction between the shape of a bucket and the shape of a pail? Are buckets and pails made of different materials? Is there a difference ...
3 votes
2 answers
7k views

What does "blazes" mean in "Stay the blazes home!"

Canada Nova Scotia Premier Stephen McNeil's war cry against COVID-19, "Stay the blazes home", trending #1 in Twitter Canada today (April 4, 2020). See news article coverage. What does "blazes" here ...
1 vote
1 answer
121 views

Does this sentence make sense? If not, how can it be improved? [closed]

The consensus on whether studying individually is more effective than studying within a group has not been reached yet. Although it seems okay for me, I think the sentence above can be improved but I ...
2 votes
2 answers
643 views

Distribution of "yelp" for "yes"

I've recently come across two people online who consistently write "yelp" meaning "yes" or "yep" in chat. Due to anonymity and privacy, I don't know much about them. From ...
5 votes
1 answer
332 views

"A hundred" treated as one word in speech (extra indefinite article)

I'm a teenager from Chicago. I've noticed some particular usages of the words "a hundred" by people around me. During a running workout, one student was 100 meters from the finish, while ...
2 votes
6 answers
20k views

When do I say "front-left" vs "left-front", or how do you differentiate between sides?

Suppose I have a box in front of me. I have labeled the front, rear, left and right sides of the box (overhead view). Each side has two handles, labeled A through H. A B -----------------...
16 votes
2 answers
9k views

The Condition Holds vs is Satisfied vs Obtains

In mathematical/scientific texts, conditions that are true (within context) are said to hold be satisfied obtain (the last one was news for me) My question is whether there is nuance in meaning ...

1
2 3 4 5
44