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:Reference desk/Archives/Language/2008 September 1 - Knowledge

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482:(SOED) are their somewhat smaller, more regularly revised siblings; both excellent for US and British usage respectively. A larger dictionary will both contain more words and contain more senses for each word; the things missing in a smaller dictionary are the more obscure words and senses. So Wiktionary leaving out the word doesn't mean it "disagrees" with Merriam-Webster. Sometimes you can have too much information: I've never heard "cause cÊlèbre" used thus, and I don't think it should have been in the article since it's so obscure in the intended sense. Finding a word in a dictionary is not permission to use it wherever you like, safe in the knowledge that it's a "real word". The dictionary tells you how others have used a word: you must decide for yourself whether to use it in a given situation. 108:
My girlfriend thinks I know Latin. She thinks it sounds sexy or something (sounds like Italian she says...) and rather than letting her know that I don't really know anything more that really really basic stuff, I'd like to know how to say some random romantic things in Latin before she realizes that
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before which I believe started out with "It's not its', it's its" or something like that. It went on for a number of sentences and made perfect sense, but might be confusing initially for some people if they don't know of the relevant grammar rules already, especially if they hear the quote instead
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was entirely in Latin, and it suffered badly because of this (I like to imagine he rejected the soldiers' advances as much for the ugly sounds they were making, as for moral reasons). I suppose this comes down to the actors not generally knowing - because nobody really knows anymore - how Latin
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Correction. In the US and Canada, the past participle of "got" is "got" when "I've got" means "I have", and "gotten" when it doesn't (i.e. when it actually refers to getting, including senses like becoming). For example, "I've got a cat" means I have a cat; "I've gotten a cat" means I
501:.) The Chambers is old-fashioned and literary with no frills; it squeezes a huge amount into definitions which are succinct if not downright terse. Collins is probably the best mainstream British dictionary smaller than SOED, though I haven't really tested the 124:
Those two are "adorabilis es" and "te amo". Or for the first one you could use gerundives, "adoranda es" or "amanda es", although I suppose she might think you are calling her by some other girl's name (unless Amanda is conveniently her name!). Check out
571:"It's is not, it isn't ain't, and it's it's, not its, if you mean it is. If you don't, it's its. Then too, it's hers. It isn't her's. It isn't our's either. It's ours, and likewise yours and theirs." -- Oxford University Press, Edpress News 407:"Leo Ornstein (1893–2002) was one of the leading American experimental composers and pianists of the early twentieth century. His performances of works by avant-garde composers and his own innovative and even shocking pieces made him a 783:
No, it's not. It's a perfectly standard word, the past participle of "get", which can mean "become". I'd probably have used the simple past "...a lot more serious than I expected", but it depends on the context, which isn't clear.
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for some other romantic things. Generally I don't find Latin to be particularly romantic; it's great for describing politics and war, and you can be extremely crude with it, but it's not really sweet and romantic.
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P.S. I'm thinking specifically of English language dictionaries. I mention this to forestall answers of the sort "the Mongahaleian Dictionary of Urdu is unparalleled."
447:. It's certainly my favorite reference for any word, despite its bulkiness. It also happens to be the official reference for the National Spelling Bee (in the US).-- 914:, I would go with "expected" rather than any of your options. As to the other points being debated, I would back quietly out of the room with no sudden movements. 414:
According to Knowledge & Wiktionary, a cause cÊlèbre is "an issue or incident arousing widespread controversy, outside campaigning and heated public debate."
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of read it. Unfortunately, I can't seem to find the quote again. I thought I would be able to google it, but amazingly it didn't show up. Can anyone find the
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and while I can't see it there, it may be worth leaving a polite note on his talk page and see if he knows it, as he may want to add it to his collection. ;) -
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My question (addressed especially to people who regularly answer questions here) is which dictionary or dictionaries they consider most reliable and helpful.
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The page you are currently viewing is an archive page. While you can leave answers for any questions shown below, please ask new questions on one of the
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I've seen various movies in which Latin was spoken, and it always sounds like a made-up language to my ears. That is, quite unnatural and stilted.
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W3NID is huge and 40 years out of date; OED is vast and 0 to 100 years out of date, depending on the word and sense. Webster's Collegiate and the
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According to the Merriam_Webster On-Line Dictionary, a cause cÊlèbre can also mean "a notorious person." Obviously different sources can disagree.
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Some people have issues with "hopefully", and would prefer "I hope these are foam too". Also, there needs to be a full stop after "expected". --
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People outside the US also need to remember that just because a usage exists in the US and not where they are, it doesn't mean that it's
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And people outside the U.S. need to remember that not everything that's characteristic of American English is an ignorant solecism. —
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actually sounded when it was spoken by native speakers, so they do their best with whatever coaching they're given. --
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past participle of get; specifically, the U.S. version. The other one is "got". Depends where you're from. --
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is the best for some purposes. It's decades out of date, but its historical coverage is, I believe, unparalleled.
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Hopefully, these are foam too, or else Cash 'n' Guns has gotten a lot more serious than I had expected!
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Hopefully, these are foam too. (Or else Cash 'n Guns has become a lot more serious than I expected)
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I only speak English... So how do I say stuff like "you're adorable" and "I love you" et cetera?
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Not. The pluperfect or past perfect is "I had expected". "I have expected" is the perfect or
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Sooner or later you will need "ego sum rumex" (I am sorry) and "indulgeo mihi" (forgive me).
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Hopefully, these are foam too, or else Cash 'n' Guns has gotten a lot more serious than I
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Hopefully, these are foam too, or else Cash 'n' Guns has gotten a lot more serious than I
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sounds weird, just like a lot of other old words that have fallen completely out of use.
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I think it's mostly the English who have that view. And they are wrong, as you say.
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and then my crisis started.  :) I wondered if it was correct and changed it to:
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Webster's Third New International Dictionary of the English Language, Unabridged
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Though perhaps that is less erotic and less applicable than one would hope... -
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bought/adopted/rescued/stole one. --Anonymous, 08:30 UTC, September 2, 2008.
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I remember finding this great quote about the use of "it's" and "its" in a
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Crisis of confidence regarding a sentence involving "had" and "have"
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I think I know the sort of thing you are talking about, wikipedian
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Welcome to the Knowledge Language Reference Desk Archives
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The following is a quote from today's featured article:
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Agree with anon, above. "Gotten" is a horrible word.
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before finally reverting back to my original sentence.
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just because you’ve read about my thousands of kisses?
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If you fancy the classics, there's always Catullus:
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more than himself and more than all his other lover
342:I’m not talking to boys here, but to two hairy men 885:a US usage. --Anon, 05:50 UTC, September 3, 2008. 318:you cocksucker Aurelius and you faggot Furius, 315:I’ll fuck you up the ass, and you can blow me, 679:. --Anonymous, 08:31 UTC, September 2, 2008. 489:because it links to both Merriam-Webster and 8: 633:- Which of these sentences is correct/best? 598:Recently, while composing a note, I wrote: 345:who can’t even move their creaky old loins. 333:Who cares if verses that have spice and wit 177:By the way, if you want to be obscene, try 104:how to say various romantic things in Latin 284:qui tum denique habent salem ac leporem, 49: 36: 686:Well, in proper English, you would say: 65: 43: 515: 311:which one scholar translates thusly: 7: 618:I thought of other variations like: 321:for suggesting that my little verses 281:ipsum, versiculos nihil necesse est; 254:Jerks off the noble sons of Rome.... 245:That same Lesbia whom Catullus loved 226:plus quam se atque suos amauit omnes 324:are effeminate and not pure enough. 275:quod sunt molliculi, parum pudicum. 272:qui me ex versiculis meis putastis, 251:now in the crossroads and alleyways 287:si sunt molliculi ac parum pudici, 220:Caeli. Lesbia nostra. Lesbia illa. 32: 749:(ec with below) Either that or a 480:Shorter Oxford English Dictionary 296:qui duros nequeunt movere lumbos. 290:et quod pruriat incitare possunt, 278:Nam castum esse decet pium poetam 910:As regards the form of the verb 411:on both sides of the Atlantic." 330:but his verses don’t need to be. 302:legistis, male me marem putatis? 293:non dico pueris, sed his pilosis 229:nunc in quadruuiis et angiportis 728:The word "hopefully" here is a 354:Fuck you both. You can blow me. 327:A good poet should be virtuous, 269:Aureli pathice et cinaede Furi, 653:Please see the article on the 299:Vos, quod milia multa basiorum 232:glubit magnanimi Remi nepotes. 223:illa Lesbia quam Catullus unam 1: 919:21:29, 2 September 2008 (UTC) 877:14:15, 2 September 2008 (UTC) 863:13:20, 2 September 2008 (UTC) 847:12:53, 2 September 2008 (UTC) 814:07:02, 2 September 2008 (UTC) 796:05:44, 2 September 2008 (UTC) 779:02:14, 2 September 2008 (UTC) 763:02:15, 2 September 2008 (UTC) 742:02:11, 2 September 2008 (UTC) 724:01:39, 2 September 2008 (UTC) 707:23:53, 1 September 2008 (UTC) 667:23:06, 1 September 2008 (UTC) 648:22:52, 1 September 2008 (UTC) 589:23:45, 2 September 2008 (UTC) 562:15:50, 2 September 2008 (UTC) 539:22:33, 1 September 2008 (UTC) 510:22:37, 2 September 2008 (UTC) 470:22:48, 1 September 2008 (UTC) 457:22:00, 1 September 2008 (UTC) 433:19:31, 1 September 2008 (UTC) 392:21:43, 2 September 2008 (UTC) 366:10:09, 2 September 2008 (UTC) 305:Pedicabo ego vos et irrumabo. 266:Pedicabo ego vos et irrumabo, 211:09:47, 2 September 2008 (UTC) 191:04:33, 2 September 2008 (UTC) 165:22:56, 1 September 2008 (UTC) 140:12:36, 1 September 2008 (UTC) 119:12:25, 1 September 2008 (UTC) 33: 503:Oxford Dictionary of English 374:Some other ideas are Ovid's 339:They can also get you going. 550:list of homophonous phrases 348:Are you two putting me down 336:are soft and not very pure? 935: 516:It's not its', it's its... 463:Oxford English Dictionary 260:Or Catullus, carmen 16: 18:Knowledge:Reference desk 825:is authentic... unlike 567:Maybe it's this quote: 695: 628: 616: 604: 579:'s fortune data file. 87:current reference desk 689: 677:present perfect tense 620: 608: 600: 242:O Heaven! Our Lesbia 495:Chambers Dictionary 380:Andreas Cappellanus 239:Which is, roughly, 546:Benjamin Mako Hill 730:dangling modifier 529:quote? Thanks! 491:American Heritage 449:El aprendelenguas 93: 92: 73: 72: 926: 655:pluperfect tense 499:available online 364: 75: 34: 934: 933: 929: 928: 927: 925: 924: 923: 751:sentence adverb 596: 518: 402: 360: 106: 101: 30: 29: 28: 12: 11: 5: 932: 930: 922: 921: 907: 906: 905: 904: 903: 902: 901: 900: 899: 898: 897: 896: 895: 894: 893: 892: 891: 890: 889: 888: 887: 886: 767: 766: 765: 694: 693: 688: 687: 683: 682: 681: 680: 670: 669: 634: 595: 592: 573: 572: 565: 564: 517: 514: 513: 512: 483: 475: 474: 473: 472: 401: 398: 397: 396: 395: 394: 369: 368: 356: 355: 352: 349: 346: 343: 340: 337: 334: 331: 328: 325: 322: 319: 316: 309: 308: 307: 306: 303: 300: 297: 294: 291: 288: 285: 282: 279: 276: 273: 270: 267: 258: 257: 256: 255: 252: 249: 246: 243: 236: 235: 234: 233: 230: 227: 224: 221: 214: 213: 198: 197: 196: 195: 194: 193: 170: 169: 168: 167: 143: 142: 105: 102: 100: 97: 95: 91: 90: 82: 81: 71: 70: 64: 48: 41: 40: 31: 15: 14: 13: 10: 9: 6: 4: 3: 2: 931: 920: 917: 913: 909: 908: 884: 880: 879: 878: 874: 870: 866: 865: 864: 861: 860: 856: 855: 850: 849: 848: 844: 840: 836: 832: 828: 824: 821: 820: 817: 816: 815: 811: 807: 803: 799: 798: 797: 794: 793: 789: 788: 782: 781: 780: 776: 772: 771:Exploding Boy 768: 764: 760: 756: 752: 748: 747: 746: 745: 743: 739: 735: 731: 727: 726: 725: 721: 717: 713: 712: 711: 710: 709: 708: 704: 700: 699:79.76.154.239 691: 690: 685: 684: 678: 674: 673: 672: 671: 668: 664: 660: 656: 652: 651: 650: 649: 645: 641: 636: 631: 627: 625: 624:have expected 619: 615: 613: 607: 603: 599: 593: 591: 590: 586: 582: 578: 570: 569: 568: 563: 559: 555: 551: 547: 543: 542: 541: 540: 536: 532: 528: 523: 511: 508: 504: 500: 496: 492: 488: 485:Online I use 484: 481: 477: 476: 471: 468: 464: 460: 459: 458: 454: 450: 446: 445: 440: 439: 438: 435: 434: 430: 426: 421: 418: 415: 412: 410: 409:cause cĂŠlèbre 405: 400:Cause cĂŠlèbre 399: 393: 389: 385: 381: 377: 373: 372: 371: 370: 367: 363: 358: 357: 353: 350: 347: 344: 341: 338: 335: 332: 329: 326: 323: 320: 317: 314: 313: 312: 304: 301: 298: 295: 292: 289: 286: 283: 280: 277: 274: 271: 268: 265: 264: 263: 262: 261: 253: 250: 247: 244: 241: 240: 238: 237: 231: 228: 225: 222: 219: 218: 216: 215: 212: 208: 204: 200: 199: 192: 188: 184: 180: 176: 175: 174: 173: 172: 171: 166: 162: 158: 153: 152: 147: 146: 145: 144: 141: 137: 133: 128: 123: 122: 121: 120: 116: 112: 111:63.245.152.68 103: 98: 96: 88: 84: 83: 80: 77: 76: 68: 61: 57: 53: 47: 42: 39: 38:Language desk 35: 27: 23: 19: 911: 882: 858: 853: 834: 830: 826: 822: 801: 791: 786: 696: 637: 632: 629: 623: 621: 617: 611: 609: 605: 601: 597: 574: 566: 526: 522:Unix fortune 519: 443: 436: 422: 419: 416: 413: 406: 403: 376:Ars Amatoria 310: 259: 149: 107: 94: 78: 800:Well, it's 640:TresÁrboles 577:Fortune4All 531:TresÁrboles 384:Adam Bishop 183:Adam Bishop 132:Adam Bishop 99:September 1 67:September 2 916:jnestorius 734:Wavelength 659:Wavelength 507:jnestorius 467:Algebraist 425:Wanderer57 151:Sebastiane 127:Catullus 5 869:Strawless 839:Strawless 638:Thanks! 575:Found in 179:this list 56:September 50:<< 46:August 31 806:JackofOz 716:JackofOz 423:Thanks, 362:Nunh-huh 157:JackofOz 26:Language 24:‎ | 22:Archives 20:‎ | 831:sneaked 554:Phydaux 487:Onelook 89:pages. 912:expect 835:gotten 823:Gotten 612:expect 548:has a 441:I use 827:snuck 732:. -- 657:. -- 527:whole 203:manya 69:: --> 63:: --> 62:: --> 44:< 16:< 883:only 873:talk 843:talk 829:for 810:talk 775:talk 759:talk 755:Deor 738:talk 720:talk 703:talk 663:talk 644:talk 585:talk 581:Korg 558:talk 535:talk 461:The 453:talk 429:talk 388:talk 207:talk 187:talk 161:talk 136:talk 115:talk 744:]] 505:. 60:Oct 52:Aug 875:) 859:gr 854:An 845:) 812:) 792:gr 787:An 777:) 761:) 753:. 740:) 722:) 705:) 697:-- 665:) 646:) 626:! 614:! 587:) 560:) 537:) 455:) 431:) 390:) 209:) 189:) 181:! 163:) 138:) 117:) 58:| 54:| 871:( 841:( 808:( 802:a 784:— 773:( 757:( 736:( 718:( 701:( 661:( 642:( 583:( 556:( 533:( 451:( 427:( 386:( 205:( 185:( 159:( 134:( 113:(

Index

Knowledge:Reference desk
Archives
Language
Language desk
August 31
Aug
September
Oct
September 2
current reference desk
63.245.152.68
talk
12:25, 1 September 2008 (UTC)
Catullus 5
Adam Bishop
talk
12:36, 1 September 2008 (UTC)
Sebastiane
JackofOz
talk
22:56, 1 September 2008 (UTC)
this list
Adam Bishop
talk
04:33, 2 September 2008 (UTC)
manya
talk
09:47, 2 September 2008 (UTC)
Nunh-huh
10:09, 2 September 2008 (UTC)

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