Are there any words that you wish meant something else?

1 Answer

Answer :

I don’t have any examples of pre-existing words that I wish had different meanings, but your alternate definition of “occidental” reminded me of a website that I love and have to share: The Addictionary

Related questions

Description : Do you wish English spelling would be simplified?

Last Answer : answer:Nope. I love it just the way it is. It's a naturally-formed language, an open-source language restricted only by our need to use it now and then. Its delicate intricacies add flavor ... Dutch, were to artificially create a lab-sterile English and impose its use. It is delightfully baroque.

Description : What historical moment or event do you wish you could have witnessed or participated in?

Last Answer : That would be entertaining! But definitely not historical.

Description : How did Patrick get his wish granted by the elf? -English

Last Answer : The little man granted Patrick a wish because he wanted to escape from the cat and did not want Patrick to give him back to the cat.

Description : Choose the most suitable sentence to begin the body of the letter. (i) I wish to draw our attention to the increasing number of theft in our locality. (ii) I will draw your attention to the ... in our locality. (iv) I wish the thieves would draw our attention to the increasing number of thefts.

Last Answer : (iii) I wish to draw your attention to the increasing number of thefts in our locality.

Description : What, according to the letter, was the primary reason that prompted Mr Petronski to take the decision to move to a big city? (a) His wish to achieve success in the big city. (b) His urge to ... in the small city. (d) His agony about his children being viewed as ̳outsiders by their schoolmates.

Last Answer : (d) His agony about his children being viewed as ̳outsiders‘ by their schoolmates.

Description : There are many incidents of Irony in the chapter. Choose the statement that DOES NOT support Irony in the end. (a) Those who go out of their way to help a poor farmer are suspected to be ... true betrays a lack of humility and gratitude. (d) The postmaster showed satisfaction for doing a good deed.

Last Answer : (d) The postmaster showed satisfaction for doing a good deed.

Description : What kind of laptop you have, and are you glad you bought it, or wish you would have got something else?

Last Answer : My parents got me a Dell as a Christmas present. I wish they had gotten me a Mac.

Description : Mandela‘s realization of his childhood freedom meant that --------- (a) it is just an illusion (b) he was born free (c) freedom was meant for kids (d) he had no realisations

Last Answer : (a) it is just an illusion

Description : If I just posted a Happy Birthday to someone, on FB, and referred to them by something I meant for someone else, should I explain myself or just let it go?

Last Answer : Straighten it out or other people may be confused, too.

Description : There was once a girl who was always jealous of her sister. One day a genie appeared and told her that he was 'half magic' which meant that he could grant her wishes, but her sister would always ... woman in the world, but her sister gets twice as much beauty.What was her third wish? -Riddles

Last Answer : She askes the genie to grab a nearby stick and beat her half to death.

Description : Does anyone else HATE the word guestimate, and the like?

Last Answer : What’s to hate about it?

Description : For the Lit-types - Did Emma Bovary drive anyone else crazy?

Last Answer : You could ask yourself why you reacted so strongly to her character. There is medicine in there I assure you:)

Description : What is the etymology of these non-words?

Last Answer : uh inarticulate sound, attested from c. 1600; uh-huh, spoken affirmative (often ironic or non-committal) is recorded by 1894; negative uh-uh is attested from 1924. That’s from the Online Etymological Dictionary.

Description : Is it not high time for the english language to replace the pronoun "you", with separate words for informal and formal contexts?

Last Answer : Why? As a native English speaker, the difference seems unnecessary and overly complicated. And now that you mention it, classist.

Description : What words or phrases do you find annoying?

Last Answer : I’ve said before & so will say again, “I’m sorry for your loss” bugs the crap out of me.

Description : Are there any words that you are repeatedly unsure of the pronunciation?

Last Answer : Estettiks

Description : What other words are similar to incurable, and confusing?

Last Answer : Screwed? Dumbfounded?

Description : Are there any words or phrases that you find annoying?

Last Answer : I can’t stand the use of “incentivize” when “incent” works in the same instance. The use of “resonate” outside of a discussion on harmonics does not sit well with me. And the use of “parent” as a verb grates on me.

Description : Have any of you had to look up any words in the dictionary recently?

Last Answer : Don't beat yourself up too much on this..no matter how intelligent / clever you're there always be some words which you haven't heard / used in your life. That doesn't make someone any ... nowadays..) later to confirm rather than looking up immediately. That gives my brai some guesswork practice..)

Description : Are the words racist, prejudiced, xenophobic, stereotyping, and generalizing all synonymous to you?

Last Answer : They are all symptoms of ignorance and fear.

Description : Is there a website where I can find a list of one thousand words of basic English?

Last Answer : answer:I found quite a few hits with the search term “basic English vocabulary.” Here’s one: https://www.vocabulary.com/lists/190098#view=notes

Description : Words that start with silent letters?

Last Answer : answer:Many. All the wr words (write, wraith, etc.) The ps words (psychology, psoriasis). Some number of h words (honor, honest). Those are the first that come to mind. It should really be “as in,” though, and not “like.”

Description : Can you draw a distinction between the words "unrational" and "irrational" [Details]?

Last Answer : answer:From what I have read, the usage in interchangeable. Which you use should depend on the origin of the root word. If it has its basis in Latin, you should use in , if Germanic then ... some previously inknown concep but t I think that it may be unsignificant in the overall scheme of things.

Description : If some words are interchangeable, what is the point of keeping them all?

Last Answer : Because one word is better used in one context than another, and some words are needed to make things like poems rhythmic.

Description : When it comes to days of the week, do the words "next" and "this" cause a lot of confusion?

Last Answer : Well, I know what you’re saying. To me it depends on which side of Sunday you’re on. If it’s Monday, saying “This Wednesday” tells me in 2 days. “Next Wednesday” tells me a week from this Wednesday. Often have to ask for clarification if we’re on the wrong side of Sunday. ;)

Description : Can you read the two words in this image?

Last Answer : Breathe Pollute?

Description : What words are odd to you?

Last Answer : Camouflage, finale, psyche, leprosy… are some words in my mind. They don’t sound like English to me.

Description : How many words go with "giving one's own opinion" in the following dictionary?

Last Answer : They all make sense in the right context. But there is a lot of nuance expressed in the various alternatives in that list.

Description : What words have people stopped using?

Last Answer : I visited my uncle at the pokey last week. Can you guess where he is?

Description : When studying and reading a novel in a foreign language - when/how often should one look up new words?

Last Answer : I think it depends on the reader. For me it's important to look up every word I'm unfamiliar with - but then, I'm not spoken-word fluent by any means, I can only just read and ... lead my mind off on a tangent sometimes, I find that more often it helps overall comprehension of the sentence.

Description : English, that glorious, at times under-appreciated language, consists of a base language and many foreign words - one of them Yiddish. What other foreign words should English include?

Last Answer : answer:There aren’t too many that English speakers don’t already use. The English language is like Roman religious beliefs, adopting part of whatever it takes over. I regularly use about half a dozen on that Yiddish word list, and am adept at using almost all the rest.

Description : Have you (or your brilliant little kids) made up any words, lately?

Last Answer : NSFW I just used the word “ladyboner” but I seriously doubt that I’m the first one to do that.

Description : What is the difference between the words "passive" and "impassive"?

Last Answer : answer:I“m unsure; probably because of the vagaries of English. Flammable and inflammable are accepted synonyms, but flammable is the preferred usage. Passive and impassive are not synonyms. A passionate person can be impassive situationally.

Description : What words make you wonder, "Why on earth is there a word for this?"?

Last Answer : answer:I and others have used defenestration more often than you might imagine. Words exist because people felt there was a need. I have almost never met a word I disliked. My recent favorites ... , plectrum, eponym, fey, cantilever, catenary, nictation, strabismus, and one of my favorites, philtrum

Description : How do you account for words that we know but rarely use?

Last Answer : answer: Paean is a noun that means a song of praise or triumph. I often read paean. It is not a rare word; transposing it into a verb is a very, very bad an egregious thing to do, ... best china, saved only for company. I use all of the words you listed, both when writing and when speaking.

Description : Are there any words that you find awkward or displeasing to the ear?

Last Answer : anaphylactic anaphylaxis

Description : Is there a standard way to write mathematics in words?

Last Answer : answer:I don't think that there is a standard way, but maybe there could be one. For your example, I would suggest Two divided by x-minus-1 (the hyphens indicating that x- ... translations that fit into a natural language as logical sentences without indicating that this is what you are doing.

Description : Would you capitalize small words like for and of on an award plaque?

Last Answer : If it was the first word yes. I have seen it both ways for words in the middle of the phrase. Generally the longer the inscription the more likely they are to use lower case.

Description : What is the problem with losing so-called 'traditional words' from the English language?

Last Answer : Cripes, that article has just a tad more than a wee smidgeon of poppycock. ;-o

Description : How to use the English vocabulary words that you already have? (Details inside)

Last Answer : Maybe it would help to try and use the words in conversation, even just saying them in sentences to yourself, for practice. Repetition helps with retaining information so verbally repeating words you’d like to remember to use could help. It may seem forced at first, but I think it’s worth a shot.

Description : What are some words that are difficult to spell, but occur regularly?

Last Answer : Definitely is at the top of my list.

Description : Will different kind of ‘words of the same purpose’ have different outcome in a sentence?

Last Answer : answer:Yes, in the case you described, they do. However, they do not always say the same thing. For one thing, word choices can make a scene more evocative. For another, word choices can make a paragraph stronger. I am afraid that your example suffers from English being your second language.

Description : Where can I learn about usage of words?

Last Answer : answer:Take up English studies (go for Linguistics if you really want to get the hang of it all) at Uni, read classical literature, watch TV Shows in English - it will all force you to really delve into ... than that, take up private lessons with a tutor or at a language school. Hope this helps :-)

Description : What are the appropriate words for these definitions?

Last Answer : answer:In 1) I think you are talking about bloat or feature creep . It's a bit hard to tell because of the way the question is phrased. In 2) I think you are talking about ... . Server programs are very much about interfaces- but interfaces between programs, not between a program and a person.

Description : How would you describe your driving ability in three words or less?

Last Answer : Graceful, yet fast.

Description : What are good transition words?

Last Answer : You don't need a transition word to write a topic sentence. Transition words are used to smoothly connect ideas or paragraphs and give cohesion to your writing. The kind of transition words you ... useful transition words link : http://www.somers.k12.ny.us/sis/main/writing/transitional_words.html

Description : What are some reference words?

Last Answer : answer:In the words of… As noted by… Per… The Institute of Apples, a recognized authority on the topic, says… Leading apple-ologists agree with… Or you could always do what I do: This reminds me…

Description : Can you sum up the weather where you live in just five words?

Last Answer : Southwestern Illinois: tornado warning once a week…

Description : Why is it mostly girl's names that are also words in English?

Last Answer : answer:(lol) Men have become the emmisaries of power. Women have been made avatars of the abstract. I can’t deny it and I don’t see what needs explaining.

Description : What are the American English equivalents for these British English words?

Last Answer : Last time I checked, “bloody” was fairly offensive in UK English—almost as bad as the f-word, and used similarly as an all-purpose pejorative. wanker = jerk-off