It's not just great... it's PENULTIMATE!

glass · Oct 13, 2006

Pbartender said:
Now you're using words incorrectly. An hyperbole is a ludicrously extravagant exagerration...

I know what hyperbole is.

The exageration was in the recent-ness of the change of meaning: saying 'seems to be mutating', rather than 'mutated about 150 years ago'. Extravagant, no?

glass.

Pbartender · Oct 13, 2006

glass said:
The exageration was in the recent-ness of the change of meaning: saying 'seems to be mutating', rather than 'mutated about 150 years ago'. Extravagant, no?

No.

"Seems to be mutating" implies that the change in definition is happing now, currently. When, in fact, the change happened generations ago, the new definition has been in popular use for at least one fifty years, and you'd likely be hard-pressed to find anyone nowawdays who'd realize the archaic definition of the word, much less use it in that manner during everysay conversion or writing.

Unless, of course, you were referring to your own original post as hyperbole. In which case, my apologies, I misunderstood your reply, thinking you were referring to my response... And yes I agree, that was extravagantly exagerrating the recentness of the change.

Dracorat · Oct 15, 2006

Why are my ears ringing as I read this thread?

Piratecat · Oct 15, 2006

Hypersmurf said:
Surely, then, any time anyone thinks a word to mean something, they're correct?

Pshaw. You're being niggardly with logic.

geosapient · Oct 15, 2006

What bothers me moor is that people just don't seam two know witch word their supposed too use when the words sound the same.

edit: Ah ha ha ha! Aye can't believe eye used the wrong 'no'.

Dracorat · Oct 15, 2006

... ahnd pepol hoo kant spel

Thurbane · Oct 15, 2006

I'll just recap from the other thread:

Thurbane said:
While an English professor may disagree with you, in coloquial terminology penultimate is generally accepted as synonymous with second best...

Reminds me of my housemate, who I call Mister Literal. If I say "I'll meet you at the end of the street" he'll point out that in fact it is a road, not a street, even though he knows exactly where I intend to meet him. He isn't trying to be a wise guy, his brain is just wired up this way...

dictionary.com said:
Originally Posted by dictionary.com
col‧lo‧qui‧al /kəˈloʊkwiəl/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[kuh-loh-kwee-uhl] Pronunciation Key - Show IPA Pronunciation
–adjective
1. characteristic of or appropriate to ordinary or familiar conversation rather than formal speech or writing; informal.
2. involving or using conversation.

Thurbane said:
Well, point 1 is the one I was getting at...I've heard plenty of people use the term penultimate in exactly the same usage as the Dracorat did, correct or not. *shrugs*

IMHO, if someone uses a word, and you know exactly what they mean despite not being the exact literal meaning of the word in question, to correct them is basically unneccessary. In an informal setting (i.e. outisde of the classroom or technical discussion on language), it borders on just being rude.

Meh, no big deal, take it leave it.

Infinit2000 said:
Doing it in public in front of others is rude, I agree. Doing it in private later is actually quite acceptable.

For example, wouldn't you want to be told your fly is down?

Thurbane said:
Indeed - but I wouldn't someone to jump up on a table, point at my crotch and yell it out! As you say, a whisper in the ear would be more appropriate.

So while I concur that the correct usage of penultimate does not mean second best, I strongly believe that it has slipped into such common usage that it is acceptable.

Thurbane · Oct 15, 2006

geosapient said:
What bothers me moor is that people just don't seam two know witch word their supposed too use when the words sound the same.

edit: Ah ha ha ha! Aye can't believe eye used the wrong 'no'.

Ah, the now famous interweb "there", "they're" and "their"... :lol:

geosapient · Oct 15, 2006

reanjr said:
"I don't think that word means what you think it means."

That would be absolutely, totally and in all other ways inconceivable.

Dracorat · Oct 15, 2006

You watch your tongue! The next time, my hand flies on its own.

It's not just great... it's PENULTIMATE!

glass

(he, him)

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