All Questions
Tagged with single-word-requests etymology
106
questions
36
votes
2
answers
10k
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Why is there paternal, for fatherly, fraternal, for brotherly, but no similar word for sons?
If paternal is "relating to someone's parents", and fraternal "relating to someone's brothers", is there, or why isn't there, a word for "relating to someone's sons", i.e: sunternal
Sentence example: ...
- 333
35
votes
14
answers
11k
views
Feminism being referred to as equality for all, as opposed to equality for women [closed]
In a recent debate with a colleague, a self-proclaimed feminist, she described feminists as seeking equality for all, and not simply just women. I thought that this was inherently wrong considering ...
- 514
30
votes
2
answers
4k
views
What is the P in 'nope' called?
Nope is another form of No. When we say this other form, we say p in it. What is this p called? Where did it come from?
- 345
30
votes
3
answers
23k
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What word can I use instead of "tomorrow" that is not connected with the idea of the rising sun?
I'm working on a novel while trying to take into account the historical context surrounding it. It begins in 1140 AD, so the characters would use Old English, Latin, Old French, and other similar ...
- 490
18
votes
5
answers
95k
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What is the correct usage of “vis-à-vis”?
I hear people use the term vis-à-vis all the time in place of what I believe should more correctly be for example or that is.
What is the most generally accepted correct and appropriate use of vis-à-...
- 725
17
votes
6
answers
24k
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Opposite word for “cursive”, as related to writing
I looked up the etymology entry at etymonline.com for cursive, which reads:
1784, from French cursif (18c.), from Medieval Latin cursivus “running,” from Latin cursus “a running,” from past ...
- 864
15
votes
3
answers
4k
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What do rodents do?
I wonder if there is a English verb to express the way rodents (rats, mice, etc.) bite on something they are trying to eat or bite.
In Portuguese we have the verb roer which comes from roedor which ...
- 255
14
votes
6
answers
2k
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Best etymological calque of the word Schadenfreude
This question is purely theoretical (i.e. I don't foresee actually trying to use the word), but using arguments based on etymology, as well as euphony and (least importantly) comprehensibility, what ...
- 351
12
votes
9
answers
19k
views
One word for “saying ‘Farewell’ to someone”
We have, for example, phrases like, “When I was greeting …” in which greeting is essentially shorthand for “saying ‘Hello’ to someone” derived from a related verb (to greet).
However, to my knowledge,...
- 1,075
12
votes
12
answers
3k
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What's the best word for denoting "treat as a single item" in the specific context I describe?
Why I'm asking
@Xanne asks "Does this really have to do with the English language?" Yes. I seek an English language verb. If you, dear reader, find it confusing that the following mentions ...
- 231
12
votes
2
answers
2k
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Word for what a "handyman" does?
For the past several weeks, I've been trying to figure out the word for what a “handyman” does. Last night I heard someone on the TV downstairs say “this is my handiwork,” and the connection suddenly ...
- 886
11
votes
2
answers
992
views
Name for when an adjective modifying a noun changes the class of objects the noun describes
When adjectives modify nouns, usually they restrict the class of objects that the noun refers to.
For example:
Red car
A red car is, in particular, an instance of a car.
However, in specialty ...
11
votes
3
answers
1k
views
Duane "Dog" Chapman, what is the word for the part in quotes between forename and surname?
Apologies if this has been asked before, I found it quite difficult to phrase what I meant!
As the question title states:
Duane "Dog" Chapman.
What is the correct word to describe the part that is ...
- 693
9
votes
6
answers
5k
views
When did "phone" become accepted as its own word? When did phone start to replace 'phone?
In older print publications, I have come across telephone shortened to 'phone, with an apostrophe to mark where the beginning of the word had been omitted. Now, however, phone does not need an ...
- 11.9k
9
votes
5
answers
1k
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The Converse of Philosophy
The etymology of philosophy is "love of wisdom" (simplified)... So what would the word be that defines the converse of "love of wisdom"?
Since it is not definitively established what the converse of ...
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