Questions tagged [is-it-a-word]
Questions about the perceived legitimacy of would-be words.
397
questions
13
votes
2
answers
2k
views
Is "stife" a name for smoking cooking oil?
My parents and grandparents used to describe smoking cooking oil as "stife". Has anyone else heard of this? Perhaps I've spelt it wrong?
- 131
1
vote
1
answer
242
views
Is there such a word as "intriguement?"
I have heard a couple of people use intriguement casually but there is nothing online except for a listing in the Urban Dictionary:
intriguement
the feeling of being intrigued
He was nearly as old ...
- 21
-1
votes
1
answer
114
views
Has the usage of "screenshare" increased in recent years?
Every time I offer to "get on a screenshare" with colleagues, Microsoft Teams marks "screenshare" with the dreaded red squiggly underline. I note that (as of August 31, 2023) the ...
- 363
2
votes
2
answers
133
views
When people say "that's not a word", are they just saying it's not part of current standard English? [duplicate]
If something is said and people understand it, sounds like a word to me. If people didn't understand it, I would think they would rather say, "what do you mean?", than making it a word after ...
user485570
2
votes
1
answer
106
views
Orthodontry as a word
When you ask search engines or dictionaries, they don't seem to recognise the word 'orthodontry' and all point to 'orthodontics' and 'orthodontia'.
I suspect 'orthodontry' is a mash-up of either of ...
- 211
8
votes
11
answers
5k
views
Can I use the word "mill" as a synonym for "destroy"?
"Mill" is usually used to describe the process of making flour (grinding), to describe a wind or water mill, or a factory.
Since the process of milling or grinding consists of making small ...
- 199
2
votes
4
answers
215
views
Can "brandy" be used as adjective of "brand"? [closed]
In the same context as of "Trendy names", why is "Brandy names" not used?
Brandy comes naturally/intuitively as an adjective to brand in the minds of a new English speaker, instead ...
- 47
4
votes
2
answers
105
views
Meaning, origin, and usage of 'mitch' to mean lucky/unlikely
Wuthering Heights' Joseph is, in my opinion, one of the more annoying characters in the book, because of a) his temperament, and b) the opaque transcriptions of his thick Yorkshire accent and ...
- 8,450
1
vote
0
answers
94
views
Is “minoratively” a word?
I know “majoratively” is a word; there was a post answering that question on this forum 8 years ago and there are definitions that come up when searched in Google. There are basically zero results ...
- 11
-1
votes
1
answer
62
views
Is "complexification" a valid word? [closed]
I have searched and I know that it is used in mathematics, but can it be used in the context of a sentence? Like the way we do simplification of a sentence, so for this usage, can we say that we ...
- 17
2
votes
2
answers
605
views
What is the meaning of the word 'veritical'?
What is the meaning of the word 'veritical'?
I've heard intellectuals use this word, it seems to mean truth, like it's derived from veritas- but I can't find it anywhere. Maybe I'm not spelling it ...
- 129
6
votes
1
answer
118
views
What are 'herbycall verses'?
This line in Philotimus, specifically the word ‘herbycall’, has been perplexing me:
Herewithall she yelded breath. Great mourninges were ex∣cited in euery corner, and wofull Philotimus swounding ...
- 8,450
1
vote
0
answers
210
views
Is "unpurposeful" a word? [closed]
I know that there are different opinions about whether or not questions like "is that a word" are correct. But for now, I want to be less free in my word usage.
I did find "unpurposeful&...
0
votes
1
answer
77
views
Is opponenture an English word? [closed]
I hear the word "Opponenture" from Czech speakers a lot. I can understand its meaning from its root, but I can't find it in any dictionary or in google. Is it a valid English word? If not, ...
- 131
1
vote
1
answer
292
views
Is the word "serie" used in English? (as a singular of "series")
As a continental, I would normally use serie to describe a single set, and series to describe multiple sets:
I own a BWM 1 Serie, but I own a collection of 5 Series
My favourite TV serie is The ...
- 175
5
votes
2
answers
5k
views
"unintuitive" vs "nonintuitive" vs"counter-intuitive" [closed]
Today I found out that despite using and hearing it frequently, "unintuitive" is not a word.
I searched english.stackexchange and found countless answers where the word is used.
It also ...
- 51
0
votes
1
answer
46
views
Is it correct to say that similar groups show high levels of "stereotypicity/stereotypicality"?
I am writing a scientific paper describing a group of cells that are consistently patterned together through different developmental stages. Phrased another way, the components of the groups are the ...
- 3
1
vote
2
answers
861
views
Is assistancy a word? If not, what's a better alternative?
Today, I wanted to discuss a role I had as a research assistant at a university. I had discussed it using language like "During my research assistancy, I did xyz" or "I had this ...
- 113
0
votes
1
answer
192
views
Is there such a word as "akind" [closed]
If two things are like each other, they are alike.
But if two things are of the same kind, could I say that they are akind?
- 175
2
votes
2
answers
332
views
Is "surefast" a word?
I was under the impression that "surefast", basically meaning "sure" or "certain", was a word.
A sentence example would be "Learning is a surefast way to success&...
- 123
2
votes
1
answer
137
views
Is there a term for "meltable"? [duplicate]
Full disclosure, I'm kind of dumb so bear with me. I've only googled a dozen or so thesauruses but I came up with nothing for things that are "meltable".
I mean, is meltable even a word? Has ...
3
votes
2
answers
1k
views
Is “not’ve” a valid [𝒔𝒊𝒄] contraction in either of spoken English or written English – or both or neither?
My English teacher has recently explained to me that not’ve is an accepted way to write the two spoken words not have, and he gave me this example of using it:
Why that machine is not working? Oh, ...
- 31
1
vote
0
answers
117
views
What is the adjective for flowers (or other objects) arranged into a vase? Vased?
I want to use the word 'vased' as an adjective before a pronoun of a subject to mean the subject has been arranged into a vase. It is a flower in this case, but it could be any other object.
The word ...
- 11
30
votes
3
answers
3k
views
Is "giffy" (meaning airborne salt spray) a real word?
My mother (from Charleston, South Carolina) uses the word "giffy" (spelling unknown; hard g sound) for airborne salt spray that gets all over cars, windows, and (in extreme cases) power ...
- 553
3
votes
3
answers
2k
views
Does the word 'Vinculation' exist?
My main language is portuguese and I'm stuyding English.
I've searched inside Cambrigde Dictionary and didn't find it. But searching for the word itself, I find texts/articles using this word.
- Word ...
- 139
1
vote
2
answers
478
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 ...
- 29
2
votes
2
answers
657
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, ...
- 1,444
0
votes
1
answer
132
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 ...
- 29
17
votes
4
answers
4k
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 ...
- 961
1
vote
0
answers
52
views
Is there a noun for the word "exact" that is like the word "similarity"? [closed]
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
1
answer
304
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 ...
- 157
0
votes
1
answer
929
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 ...
- 131
6
votes
1
answer
200
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 ...
- 239
2
votes
1
answer
2k
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 ...
- 37
4
votes
3
answers
25k
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 ...
- 141
1
vote
1
answer
87
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 ...
- 639
10
votes
2
answers
9k
views
Is the word "psithurism" really used in English?
I have seen people using this word to refer to the sound wind makes as it moves through trees. However,
1. No reputable dictionary seems to have acknowledged this term as a valid english word.
2. ...
- 203
0
votes
0
answers
124
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’
- 31
7
votes
2
answers
30k
views
Is "unironically" a valid word?
Every spell checker I have, both ones that automatically spell check and those run after finishing a document or draft, seems to consider the word unironically to be incorrect. I have heard the word ...
- 84
1
vote
2
answers
800
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"...
- 11
1
vote
0
answers
699
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
1
answer
103
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
2
answers
588
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？
- 195
2
votes
1
answer
11k
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 ...
- 127
0
votes
3
answers
2k
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 ...
- 616
0
votes
1
answer
381
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
- 103
3
votes
1
answer
10k
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")?
- 557
3
votes
1
answer
7k
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:
...
- 215
-1
votes
3
answers
2k
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 ...
- 15
1
vote
3
answers
4k
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 ...
- 19