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I wonder which he meant...

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November 05, 2008, 08:32
BobHale
I wonder which he meant...
Just read this in a transcript of Obama's acceptance speech.

quote:
You did it because you understand the enormity of the task that lies ahead. For even as we celebrate tonight, we know the challenges that tomorrow will bring are the greatest of our lifetime - two wars, a planet in peril, the worst financial crisis in a century.


I wonder which meaning he meant.


"No man but a blockhead ever wrote except for money." Samuel Johnson.
November 05, 2008, 12:12
zmježd
It's interesting that the obsolete meaning of enormity meant 'vastness, hugeness'. If the word were decimate the mavens would want to go with its etymological and older meaning. Oh, the enormousness of it all!


Ceci n'est pas un seing.
November 05, 2008, 18:00
<Asa Lovejoy>
The earlier definition is more befitting of the outgoing administration, IMHO.
November 07, 2008, 19:34
<Proofreader>
During today's press conference, Obama used "enormity" once again, referring to the size of the task ahead. Guess that settles it.
November 08, 2008, 09:03
zmježd
An update on enormity from Michael Quinion (link).


Ceci n'est pas un seing.
November 08, 2008, 19:27
Kalleh
Hmmm, we have two threads on this.

In my post in the last thread on this, I said in way too many words what z eloquently said above. Exactly, z!
November 09, 2008, 03:18
BobHale
Yes, I'm struggling to keep up with who is replying to what where. Smile


"No man but a blockhead ever wrote except for money." Samuel Johnson.