Go
New
Find
Notify
Tools
Reply
  
Arch Supports? Login/Join
 
Member
Picture of Caterwauller
posted
What would be the verb for describing someone who is practicing archery? This morning my son said "I haven't arched in months! I'm glad it's almost Spring!"

Cute, huh? But what would be the right way to say that? We settled for saying "I haven't practiced archery in months." But a single word verb would be cooler.


*******
"Happiness is not something ready made. It comes from your own actions.
~Dalai Lama
 
Posts: 5149 | Location: Columbus, OhioReply With QuoteReport This Post
Member
posted Hide Post
Interesting. Come to think of it, what you say is true of almost all other sports. When you participate in baseball, there's no single verb; you play baseball. And similarly for football, basketball, chess, etc.

The only exception I can think of is that a bowler can bowl.
 
Posts: 1184Reply With QuoteReport This Post
Member
Picture of Kalleh
posted Hide Post
A skater can skate. A skier can ski. A swimmer can swim. A wrestler can wrestle. A fighter can fight. A pitcher can pitch (in baseball, of course).
 
Posts: 24735 | Location: Chicago, USAReply With QuoteReport This Post
Member
Picture of Caterwauller
posted Hide Post
So I guess an archer just shoots?


*******
"Happiness is not something ready made. It comes from your own actions.
~Dalai Lama
 
Posts: 5149 | Location: Columbus, OhioReply With QuoteReport This Post
<Asa Lovejoy>
posted
quote:
Originally posted by Caterwauller:
So I guess an archer just shoots?


As do basketball players and firearms users.

While I haven't looked it up, I guess that archer derives from the arched shape of a bow, so bending a bow would, as your son said, be arching! I say you credit him with establishing a new word that should have been around all along!

So, an arch rival would be someone shooting arrows at you, I suppose...
 
Reply With QuoteReport This Post
Member
Picture of BobHale
posted Hide Post
quote:
Originally posted by Asa Lovejoy:
[So, an arch rival would be someone shooting arrows at you, I suppose...


Or one who treats you in a playful and teasing manner.

arch


"No man but a blockhead ever wrote except for money." Samuel Johnson.
 
Posts: 9421 | Location: EnglandReply With QuoteReport This Post
Member
Picture of Hic et ubique
posted Hide Post
quote:
hic: a bowler can bowl.
Kalleh: A skater can skate. A skier can ski. A swimmer can swim. A wrestler can wrestle. A fighter can fight. A pitcher can pitch (in baseball, of course).
All of them individual activities; similarly, a golfer can golf.

So it looks like as a general rule, the verb for "to participate in a given sport" (1) is a variant of the sport name, in individual sports, but (2) needs the word 'play', for team sports.

The sport of archery would be an exception, as would chess, if you consider chess a 'sport'. Any other exceptions?
 
Posts: 1204Reply With QuoteReport This Post
<Asa Lovejoy>
posted
I did in fact find a dictionary reference to "arching" as the practice of archery, so your son is on the right verbal track, CW!
 
Reply With QuoteReport This Post
Member
Picture of Caterwauller
posted Hide Post
Ah! He's a GENIUS!


*******
"Happiness is not something ready made. It comes from your own actions.
~Dalai Lama
 
Posts: 5149 | Location: Columbus, OhioReply With QuoteReport This Post
Member
Picture of Richard English
posted Hide Post
Last Sunday I had a few pints of Archers, an excellent beer from Swindon. Find out more here http://www.archers-brewery.co.uk/


Richard English
 
Posts: 8038 | Location: Partridge Green, West Sussex, UKReply With QuoteReport This Post
Member
Picture of Kalleh
posted Hide Post
With 5,000 beers, there are few words that don't have beers in England! Wink

Here is a great thread we had very early on all about beer words. We had fun! Big Grin
 
Posts: 24735 | Location: Chicago, USAReply With QuoteReport This Post
Member
posted Hide Post
Ah yes, another great contribution to the world by the British!
 
Posts: 291 | Location: EnglandReply With QuoteReport This Post
Member
Picture of shufitz
posted Hide Post
How appropriate for the "Arch Supports" thread.

With 5,000 beers, you'll definitely need some form of support!
 
Posts: 2666 | Location: Chicago, IL USAReply With QuoteReport This Post
  Powered by Social Strata  
 


Copyright © 2002-12