|
|
Post by petrochemist on May 10, 2024 14:17:06 GMT
Yes. It comes from Daedalus, (who was the architect of the Minotaur's labyrinth) and in Greek and Latin, the word means 'skillfully composed or constructed' So now, anything 'daedal' is inctricate, clever or complex. Are you sure it wasn't that Daedalus earned his name by being so skilled at composing/constructing? That seems far more likely to me. |
|
|
|
Post by peterob on May 10, 2024 14:26:34 GMT
I often wonder about words. For example, if you can be inept, can you be ept? No I don't think so, shame though. There isn't a simple word that springs to mind to capture a sense of "a capacity to demonstrate capability in a task", ept would do nicely. Might be worth checking the OED. I've misplaced my library card but with it I used to be able to get to the OED online version. I have only a 40year old Shorter Oxford. |
|
|
|
Post by peterba on May 10, 2024 14:42:32 GMT
I often wonder about words. For example, if you can be inept, can you be ept? Yes, I think you can. Although definitely NOT, if you are Truss, or Kwarteng. Or Sunak, for that matter. |
|
|
|
Post by peterob on May 10, 2024 14:44:07 GMT
I often wonder about words. For example, if you can be inept, can you be ept? According to Quora it is a word despite not generally being in dictionaries. Not sure I believe that but it is possible that it fell into disuitude a very long time ago. Good word disuitude.  New one on me. Not in my Shorter Oxford (1983 version) or Chambers(2003). I'll have to find my library card. Edit: Desuetude (1623) - is in the Shorter Oxford - Edit2: and in Chambers - saves my looking for my library card. |
|
|
|
Post by willien on May 10, 2024 15:30:53 GMT
According to Quora it is a word despite not generally being in dictionaries. Not sure I believe that but it is possible that it fell into disuitude a very long time ago. Good word disuitude. New one on me. Not in my Shorter Oxford (1983 version) or Chambers(2003). I'll have to find my library card. Edit: Desuetude (1623) - is in the Shorter Oxford - Edit2: and in Chambers - saves my looking for my library card. I realised my spello and corrected it. Obviously after you saw the post. Strangely I had typed it correctly when first googling to check that I had correctly remembered the word. For some reason I find the sites input font particularly difficult for recognising mis-spelling. The actual posts font I find a bit easier. |
|
|
|
Post by dorsetmike on May 10, 2024 16:55:57 GMT
Surely adept would be the converse of inept
|
|
|
|
Post by Chester PB on May 10, 2024 17:42:57 GMT
I often wonder about words. For example, if you can be inept, can you be ept? Yes, if you are skilled. Perhaps a good word use in emails to people you want to annoy. |
|
|
|
Post by zou on May 10, 2024 17:43:25 GMT
I often wonder about words. For example, if you can be inept, can you be ept? Said with a South African accent, it's apt, as in aptitude etc. Connected? |
|
|
|
Post by Chester PB on May 10, 2024 17:48:31 GMT
I recently found the word 'uppercutted' in a recent novel. It was being used as the third person simple past tense of 'to uppercut', which is a type of punch used in fisticuffs. Assuming its tenses end like those of 'to cut', the correct use in this case would be 'uppercut', with 'uppercuts' being the third person present tense.
The author's notes at the end of the book invited comments, but I have had no reply to this observation. |
|
|
|
Post by don on May 12, 2024 18:33:40 GMT
Thelonious I don’t think I have heard it before but I discovered Theoloious Monk jazz pianist today
|
|
|
|
Post by MJB on May 12, 2024 18:45:34 GMT
I'm enjoying "Prig" today and I will probably use it in an ept manner to annoy someone later.
|
|
|
|
Post by spinno on May 13, 2024 8:44:02 GMT
I'm enjoying "Prig" today and I will probably use it in an ept manner to annoy someone later. Normally it's twinned with pompous if my memory serves |
|
|
|
Post by dreampolice on May 13, 2024 9:06:57 GMT
I'm enjoying "Prig" today and I will probably use it in an ept manner to annoy someone later. Used it yet? |
|
|
|
Post by kate on May 13, 2024 9:20:25 GMT
I'm enjoying "Prig" today and I will probably use it in an ept manner to annoy someone later. Entirely correct for one who sits on the fence, pontificating about the 'right' thing to do, whilst ignoring any arguments to the contrary. How about Cameron? Hmm, nearly appropriate I think. |
|
|
|
Post by Kath on May 13, 2024 9:21:20 GMT
I often wonder about words. For example, if you can be inept, can you be ept? Said with a South African accent, it's apt, as in aptitude etc. Connected? I think we tend to use adept rather than ept don't we? |
|
