Questions tagged [is-it-a-word]
Questions about the perceived legitimacy of would-be words.
364
questions
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103 views
Identifying Compound words in Modern English
Compound words like SNOWMAN etc, are obvious compound words in Modern English, as both words that make up the compound word exist as words in Modern English.
However, words like SHEPHERD aren't words ...
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2answers
188 views
Is combustant a word?
I am trying to pin down the definition of the word combustant, but I can't seem to find anything. Almost all dictionaries are giving me the definition for combustion. If I search with a strict filter, ...
0
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1answer
85 views
Can we use “depot” as an adjective? [closed]
Can we use depot in this form: depotted books or depot books?
(I’m not sure about the past participle of this word.)
Or should it be used only as a “place” where books are supposed to be
stored, a ...
17
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4answers
3k views
Why can’t I turn “fast-paced” into a quality noun by adding the “‑ness” suffix?
I needed to write a word that expressed the quality of being fast-paced.
"Fast-pacedness" sounded off and I looked the dictionaries up.
Collins is my favourite one. Webster I use when I need ...
1
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0answers
33 views
Is there a noun for the word “exact” that is like the word “similarity”?
I am not sure how to word this correctly, but I am looking for a noun for the word "exact" that is basically like the word "similarity". Would the word "exactitude" be ...
1
vote
1answer
90 views
Chanterelle and Chantrelle, which is the correct name of the mushroom?
I always spell it as chanterelle until I bought a box of CHANTRELLE in Whole Foods Market. I looked up my dictionary, and yes, the word should be chanterelle. However, I also noticed that, the word ...
0
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1answer
33 views
Is “hardwork” a valid word?
I came across this word in an English test, where "hardwork" was marked as the 'correct' answer for a question. I know of the adjective hardworking, but I thought "hardwork" was ...
0
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0answers
17 views
What is the antonym for the phrase “role model”? [duplicate]
"Role Model" is used in a positive light, and thus doesn't fit the sentence below.
Bob saw his incriminated elder brother, and made a ____ out of him.
6
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1answer
172 views
Abetrours :: meaning & etymology
We've found this word Abetrours here and here, but cannot seem to find a definition of it. Can anyone refer us to one, and ideally its etymology as well? Feel free to suggest another StackExchange ...
0
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1answer
239 views
Is 'irreasonable' as the opposite of reasonable acceptable or not? [closed]
Generally, the negative form of 'reasonable' is 'unreasonable' with the negative prefix 'un', but I do have come across 'irreasonable' used as the opposite of 'reasonable'. So my question is whether ...
2
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2answers
649 views
Is there a common abbreviation for “with or without”? e.g. _w/wo_ or _w/w/o_
Is there a common abbreviation for "with or without"? e.g. w/wo or w/w/o
Obviously, something this complex is best written in full form, but I'm looking for something to use in space ...
1
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1answer
58 views
Is 'swaddles' a word?
I swear I've heard the term swaddles used before, but when I look it up, I only get definitions for swaddle. I believe it was used as a noun, but the definition of swaddle is throwing me off.
Here's ...
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0answers
77 views
Is it correct to say ‘Skyping’ in a sentence
Is it correct to say to my boss ‘ I will be Skyping with you from there’
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2answers
357 views
Which spelling would be more correct: “Evictor” or “Evicter”?
Both "Evictor" and "Evicter" show up at Lexico.com. The "Evicter" page is much more substantial, though.
At Dictionary.com, "Evictor" is the only accepted spelling.
Google Trends shows that "Evictor"...
1
vote
0answers
203 views
What does Jane Austen mean by the word 'alloy' in Sense and Sensibility? [closed]
As dear Austen had written on page 6, volume 1, chapter 1, I quote -
"But in sorrow she must be equally carried away by her fancy, and as far beyond consolation as in pleasure she was beyond alloy. "
2
votes
1answer
71 views
Word for being aware only of oneself [duplicate]
I'm looking for a word that describes an entity having only knowledge of its own existence, but no one else's.
The closest I have now is autognostic, auto being "self" and gnostic being "having ...
1
vote
2answers
164 views
Glowy-Is it a new word? [closed]
And the glow of a campfire was not, well, as glowy without the darkness of night.
its context
I didn't get "glowy" in the dictionary. I'm guessing it's a made up word. Do you think it is acceptable？
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0answers
4k views
Is “strategization” a word, or is there something more correct/appropriate?
Is strategization a word? As in:
We noticed flaws in their accounting department so the project will
include a QuickBooks strategization.
[EDIT] As @tchrist points out, this isn't the best ...
0
votes
3answers
834 views
is “intriguity” an actual word? [closed]
Intriguity as in "the state of being intrigued; curiosity"?
I saw it being used by writers multiple times, but now that I wanted to use it myself, I tried searching it up in the dictionaries and ...
0
votes
1answer
280 views
Plural of “today”? [closed]
Does the word "today" have a plural form?
I believe it is todays but the gf doesn't believe that is a word?
Thanks
3
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1answer
6k views
What does zitch dog mean?
In "How I met your mother" they played a road game called "zitch did" (or possibly "zitchdog"). Is there such a word as "zitch" (or possibly "zitchdog")?
3
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1answer
4k views
Is recepted a word?
I have been saying this for years, I think. I also thought I had heard it used before. However, today I used it in a sentence, and my spell checker under lined it.
The sentence(fragment) I wrote was:
...
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3answers
1k views
ORIENTEE, a word or not in Scrabble?
I am confused why I cannot use 'ORIENTEE' as a word in Scrabble.
It should mean 'someone who is attending orientation, as in a new employee (and the word is formed analogously: 'someone being ...
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3answers
2k views
Usage of the word “interimly” [closed]
I have a quick question: I used the word interimly talking to someone today. It went something like - 'I give you (someone) pat on the back for interimely filling someone's else shoes'. I am strongly ...
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1answer
63 views
Is '“snapshotting” a correct word? [closed]
For example, as part of the information message of some computer script:
Snapshotting the file...
Can we write snapshotting instead of taking the snapshot? Is it still correct?
I've found an ...
0
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1answer
96 views
Working Culture vs Work Culture
I've seen both usages in articles published by reputable media like NYT and the Entrepreneurs. I've seen both being used to refer to what seems to me to be the same thing. It's so puzzling to me.
An ...
1
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1answer
150 views
Is “minus your points” a valid phrase?
Suppose that a teacher says
I will minus your points if you cheat.
To mean "I will deduct your points."
Here, minus is apparently used as a verb.
Checking out the dictionaries,
it can be seen that ...
-1
votes
1answer
1k views
Is 'interpretating' a word? [closed]
Is 'Interpretating' a misrepresentation?
I wrote interpretating in my exam. 😭
I found some examples that using interpretating.
Can I use interpretating?
0
votes
1answer
210 views
How to name collection of web links? [closed]
I have a blog and from time to time I made posts that contains only web links with some short description. Those links was not so easy to gather and they are have a value by themselves. I call this ...
1
vote
1answer
1k views
What is the correct term for a fear of breasts?
I have known this is a phobia for quite a while and remember reading the word long ago, but when I googled it today I got 2 different spellings: mastophobia and mastrophobia. Which one is right? Is ...
0
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2answers
314 views
Is “bumption” a word?
"Bumptious" means conceited or pompous. Does the word “bumption” exist to describe such a trait?
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4answers
218 views
what is the verb for water going past a rock?
I'm looking for a verb to describe the "Y" thing the water makes when it hits a rock, for example in the river. Here is a professional piece of art I made (view from the top):
Is it simply called "...
0
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3answers
221 views
Word to describe people who blindly believe accusations [closed]
I can’t for the life of me remember what this word is or if it even exists.
I’m thinking of a word that would describe medieval era peasants who are religious and make and believe accusations of witch ...
0
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1answer
261 views
Is there a word/phrase that describes someone flinching after they sip alcohol?
Even flinching isn't the best way to describe it.
Example: a person will take a sip of a strong alcoholic beverage (take for instance, straight whiskey) and then will proceed to make that iconic ...
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2answers
88 views
can cattleguard be spelled as one word
i'm unable to find cattleguard listed as a single word anywhere, but I think it ought to be an acceptable spelling
2
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1answer
396 views
Is there such a word as repercussionless
Is there such a word as repercussionless. Or what word would mean something like that??
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2answers
1k views
Is “commerical” a valid and different word from “commercial”? [closed]
Googling, I see many places using the spelling commerical, but I don't see that spelling in any dictionaries at all. Is it a mistake for commercial, or are these two different words?
0
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1answer
388 views
Is hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophilia a word?
I'd like to know if hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophilia, my proposed opposite of hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia is a real word or condition. I know -philia is the opposite of -phobia and -...
0
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2answers
115 views
Can witnessable become witnessably?
This is for the grammar pros out there—are there any concerns about using the potential word witnessably?
Examplary context:
He witnessably engages in dubious practices.
It is not in a ...
2
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3answers
4k views
Is untasty a valid English word?
I cannot see untasty in Oxford dictionary. Also spelling checker tells it is invalid. But in dictionary.com , I see it is a related form of tasty. Please see screenshot below. So is it a valid ...
2
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1answer
132 views
What is wrong with the word “motorsporting”?
I was reading a book where the author is discussing the BBC buying the rights to show Formula 1. He quotes the press release by the BBC announcing the acquisition.
The book's quote is "the biggest ...
0
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2answers
2k views
Is Key Bunch a proper word?
When you want to describe a set of keys bound to a huge metal ring, like the ones you'd see in a game of movie with medieval settings on the belt of a prison guard, what word would you use? Key bunch?...
5
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2answers
353 views
Status of 'hypophora' as a word
I participate in other SE forums where it's common practice for experienced or knowledgeable participants to simultaneously submit both a question and an answer. This can be very helpful in technical ...
6
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1answer
969 views
Meaning/Origin of word “Nixie”
In the area of which I live, there is a certain word we use to describe somebody that is naughty, or bad, in a joking/lighthearted manner. I do not know how to spell the word, and every attempt to ...
0
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2answers
2k views
Is “Illustrationist” a word? [closed]
Is “illustrationist” an existing word? Or should I use ‘illustrator’ instead?
2
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2answers
2k views
Is “deacceleratingly” a valid word?
Deaccelerate means the same as decelerate, though it seems to be a much less common alternative. I did not know this until recently, as I had used this alternative all my life. It just seemed logical ...
2
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2answers
1k views
Is “misreact” a word?
I am trying to describe someone's reactions in a situation. At first I used the word overreact, but then I realized it is not only the person's overreaction but also other kinds of inappropriate or ...
0
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1answer
320 views
Is ‘affinative’ a word?
The Microsoft .NET Framework API¹ has a curiously named interface ILogicalThreadAffinative. According to their naming standard, namely concatenating capitalized meaningful English words into a single ...
5
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1answer
793 views
Is multifunctionality an actual word?
After checking a few dictionaries like https://www.dictionary.com, I noticed that the only form of this word they recognize is the adjective form: multifunctional. The only noun form listed is "...
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3answers
186 views
Is “catarolysis” a word? Whether it is or not, how might it be broken down into Greek or Latin derivatives?
Some definitions I have seen are:
"catarolysis - n. - cursing to let off steam"
and
"catarolysis: letting off steam by cursing"
and
"catarolysis /kat uh RALL ih sis/ n The practice of cursing to ...
