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Results tagged with etymology
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user 2223
Questions about tracing out and describing the elements of an individual word, as well as the historical changes in form and sense which that word has experienced over its history. Please use the 'phrase-origin' tag for phrase/expression origins.
18
votes
3
answers
22k
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When and why did "patronize" gain the meaning of condescension versus being a customer?
To patronize an establishment is generally a good thing, but to be patronized is bad. I assume that the former meaning was the original, but when did the other come into being and why?
- 1,234
5
votes
4
answers
7k
views
Origin of "a head of steam"
I'm aware of the general origin of "a head of steam" being from old steam-powered trains, but how does it break down? I'm guessing that the "head" is the surplus of motive force necessary to break fr …
- 1,234
4
votes
7
answers
898
views
Why is the common meaning of logical terms ('and', 'or') incongruous from that in math?
If someone wrote that they want "nuts and bolts", they would get a bunch of hardware they could attach things with. If this was software or math, they would only receive nothing, because things are ( …
- 1,234
4
votes
3
answers
3k
views
"Do you live around here or ride a bicycle?"
My grandpa used to ask "Do you live around here or ride a bicycle?" fairly often, finding it hilarious (him and only him). While it is quite an awkward, malformed piece of logic, what is its source? …
- 1,234