Some words sound like they should mean something else, often the exact opposite. “Secular” is one such that has always bothered me, because one would suppose it means sectarian. Here’s another one, that I just recently came upon:

Says William James about Voltaire’s later-life attitude about the world in The Varieties of Religious Experience, “Much as we may admire such a robust old gamecock spirit in a valetudinarian, to call it a religious experience would be odd.”

From the sound of the word I had supposed a valetudinarian to be someone honored in the depth and breadth of his scholarship. But actually it means someone weak or sickly


I was sure an alienist would be anyone promoting the idea of amnesty. It means psychiatrist

Another: latitudinarian, that one might imagine means a world traveler who makes a special note of differences between the hemispheres. It means deviationism or liberalism

Do you have any favorite words of this sort

This message has been edited. Last edited by: dalehileman,

I think you may be thinking of valedictorian.

arnie: That was my inference, I was making a feeble thrust at subtlety

I don't think valedictorian is used in the UK; at least, I've never heard it and have always assumed it was an American custom.

I have moved this topic to Q & A About Words as you seemed to indicate you wanted it there, instead of Potpourri.

Sure, either one, as they're both pretty active

I sure was disappointed in the response to "porch dog," tho

Dale, don't be disappointed. First of all, this is a small site, relatively speaking. Secondly, I had read it and thought it would take more time than I had to research it. So, I put it on my back burner. I will come back to it. Perhaps others will, too.

k: Thanks for the encouragement

Actually I suffer a form of intellectual laziness, in addition to incipient Alzheimer's, wishing not to have to wade through 1000 Ghits

Using large sites I complain about my thread getting lost or archived before I get a good answer. Using a small site like this one I am disappointed by the scant response

I am a curmudgeon

This message has been edited. Last edited by: dalehileman,

Another consideration is that sites go through peaks and valleys. Often, especially with a smaller board, several people will be on vacation together, or whatever. When that happens, slowness will beget slowness (there is nothing to respond to so even when people are around, there might be nothing much to reply to), and it can become a vicious cycle. Then, suddenly, for no apparent reason often, the board begins to heat up and things are really clicking.

This used to frustrate me, but I am beginning to understand that it's just natural for most boards.

BTW, has anyone seen neveu lately? I have been missing him!

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Kalleh,

Wasn't it neveu who said that he was leaving off all of his internet interactions?

CW,

That was aput.

Yes, arnie is correct. I have sent neveu an email and a PM and hope to hear from him. I liked his style.

Oh, ok. I knew it was someone. I do hope neveu comes back.

quote:

Originally posted by Caterwauller:
Oh, ok. I knew it was someone. I do hope neveu comes back.

Sounds a most unkind sentiment to me