896:
were shortened to "my" and "thy" before consonants, and then even before vowels, as well. The reason was not to prevent two vowels being pronounced together, but to avoid saying a declensional/conjugational "n" before an inititial consonant. Verb and noun endings with "n" had already largely died out by the end of the Middle
English period ("children" and "oxen" being rare exceptions that survive). The process continued with "mine", "thine" and "an", probably because the "n" was misinterpreted as a declensional ending.
346:
people go to seclude themselves. For example, people speak of spiritual retreats (perhaps focused on meditation) or writing retreats. A vacation or holiday might be described as a retreat, but a vacation gambling and drinking in Las Vegas would not normally be described as a retreat. Many cultures have a concept of spiritual retreat, and you might try a word in your target language with that meaning. While the title might have been chosen, as StuRat suggests, because of the double entendre of the word
1014:
In
America, you hear it from people much older than that. A friend of mine (currently in her mid-40s) told me when she was younger she used to tease her mother (presumably currently in her late 60s at the youngest) for saying "Get in the lane with a arrow in it" when giving instructions to the driver
952:
Actually, it was your comparison to the intrusive "r" that I most objected to. As for the comparison with French, there is some similarity, but not quite. In
English, this didn't happen with all "n"s, but only with those that were (or were misinterpreted as) declensional/conjugational endings. "N"s
345:
means either 1) a time when a person chooses to separate himself or herself from his or her regular routine or the demands of worldly life and to seclude himself or herself (perhaps with other like-minded people) in a peaceful setting, sometimes for a specific purpose, or 2) a peaceful locale where
895:
Nice try, but historically indefensible. The "n" is in no way intrusive, but a part of the full stem of the word. The "n" is dropped from "an" (a sister form of the word "one"), not added to "a". The same thing used to happen to "mine" and "thine" ("Mine eyes have seen", "Avert thine eyes"), which
302:
Well, for those that haven't seen the movie and cannot be bothered to read the description, could you please say at least if the following sentence from the film's site: "their island retreat is about to become a prison" can be interpreted as: "their island withdrawal is about to become a prison"?
266:
A "retreat" is also a place to go on holiday. The idea is to get away from your busy life and have a relaxing vacation. It's related to the other usual meaning, the retreat of an army - in that case the army would be moving away from danger or trouble. I haven't seen the movie, so I don't know if
1099:
And just to throw a monkey-wrench in the discussion, when used before the "long-u" sound, it is always "a" and not "an", as in "I have a use for that" and usually never "I have an* use for that." Although that's a case of a more consonantal u anyways, as it's a u acting like a y (as in you and
629:
Well, I should say that the dictionary I found also linked κηδεία to κῆδος, but none of the hypotheses for the ultimate etymology listed under either entry linked the two words. Anything's possible, but etymologists have their reasons; it may be that the ώ / ή sound change is not found in other
730:
If there are adjectives, use 'an' when the adjective directly after the article begins with a vowel sound ('easy', 'honourable', 'outstanding'), but not when it doesn't ('big', 'small'). It doesn't matter what the noun, or any other adjectives begin with. So in your example, it would be 'a big
1029:
Very common in children and somewhat common in sub-standard speakers of all varieties of
English, and has been for quite some time. Definitely not specific to American or Australian (substandard) English. I haven't heard about it increasing in usage among standard speakers anywhere.
824:... but then there are a few people who say (and write) "an hotel", even when they pronounce the "h", because they were taught that "hotel" takes "an" by someone who didn't pronounce the "h" (or by someone whose teacher didn't), and the logic got lost in the chain. </rant: -->
1120:
Your monkey-wrench isn't a spanner because what you call a "long u" is pronounced as if it begins with the consonant "y", so follows the pronunciation rule. A genuine long "u" (rare in
English) still takes "an" not "a" before it. I don't know of any exceptions to the rule.
250:
I would like to know the opinion of native speakers that have seen the film or read the description. The problem we have is related to difficulties in translating this film's name into other languages, that's why my question was asked here and not in
Entertainment. Tnank you
469:
769:. For example, the word "euphonious" starts with a vowel letter (e) but the opening syllable is "yoo", which would start with a consonant (y) if we wrote it "yoophonious". Therefore, we say "a euphonious sound", not "an euphonious sound". -- ♬
244:"Taking an isolated break on an uninhabited island, Martin (Cillian Murphy -The Dark Night, 28 Days Later) and Kate (Thandie Newton -2012, RocknRolla) are about to find that their island retreat is about to become a prison of unimaginable terror."
127:
I don't think it's a sentence, but just a fragment - a museum label, perhaps? "A stone for touching the eyes, encased/mounted in gold". Disclaimer: I am unfamiliar with any verb 'enchassier', but its meaning seems apparent from form and context.
656:/ō/ and /ē/ respectively, which can occur in different forms of the same root. But I'd think it more likely that the association of poppies with death comes from the (chance) resemblance of the words, rather than the other way around. —
918:
Actually, still similar to French, since historical french also dropped final consonants from pronounciations except when the next word began with a vowel. The development of liaison in French worked historically
931:
what happened with a/an. That was exactly and 100% my point, so I find it odd that you take an oppositional tone and then agree that the n was dropped from an to make a, which was not in opposition to my point.
1100:
yours). What's amazing about language is that native speakers rarely have to be reminded of the rules as complex as when to use "a" or "an" even though it is fraught with apparent exceptions and exclusions. --
1077:
It need not be sub-standard speakers. I've known educated people who would say something like, "I'll be back in a hour". But they're liable to say "a" as "uh", which makes it work better (or less bad, anyway).
318:
No, in that sentence they are using the "vacation/holiday" meaning. However, I suspect they picked that word because of it's double meaning, as they later need to "retreat", as in withdrawal under fire.
670:
I'd say it's more likely that the association of poppies with death comes from the narcotic effect of poppies, and the chance resemblance of the words is nothing more than a happy coincidence.
1044:
407:
In the noun sense it means a place of seclusion and presumed safety. Marco is onto it: They could have accomplished the same by saying that "their safe haven is about to turn into hell". ←
66:
45:
55:
51:
822:
So the correct rule is to write "an" before any word that is pronounced as if it begins with a vowel. (e.g. "an herb" in
American English, but "a herb" in British English).
59:
350:, I think it was very likely chosen at least in part because of the ironic contrast between the intended peaceful retreat and the hellish nightmare that ensued.
567:, meaning "vault" or "hole" and is related to ancient Greek κῶος, "hollow place", "cave". It seems that your friend is correct; the words are unrelated.
85:
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
25:
204:
Thanks for all your help. The stone in question is a "magical stone" with alleged healing properties which belonged to a French noblewoman in 1470.--
535:
I heard the association with death was because poppies tend to grow in recently disturbed dirt, as in a grave. Can anyone confirm or debunk this ?
716:
691:
520:
1156:
1082:
975:
871:, that is to avoid pronouncing two vowel sounds side-by-side. In some non-standard English dialects, this is also accomplished via the
813:
453:
411:
996:
I don't know how widespread this is, but various 20-odd-year-olds of my acquaintance are perfectly comfortable with saying things like
389:
630:
instances and is therefore not plausible. Also, as Deor found, the words also have other meanings which would need to be explained.
37:
21:
967:
The intrusive "r" is typically used between vowels, like the trailing "n" is. One example we used to laugh at, decades ago, was on
715:
I know we use "an" before the words start with a vowel but what happened if there is an adj. Let say: a big apple or an big apple?
556:
552:
405:
447:
423:
All this reminds me of my puzzlement, once upon a time, that so many entries in a certain biographical index said things like
953:
that were part of the word stem or part of a suffix were mostly unaffected, except for "an", "mine" and "thine", of course.
1214:
1193:
1160:
1146:
1115:
1086:
1070:
1056:
1039:
1024:
1009:
979:
962:
947:
905:
890:
850:
817:
796:
778:
740:
724:
699:
679:
665:
641:
616:
598:
576:
544:
528:
481:
457:
440:
415:
397:
359:
328:
312:
294:
276:
260:
213:
198:
183:
169:
151:
137:
121:
684:
Grrr coincidence, Oh well, atleast i have a nice mental cue if i'm ever trying to remember the word for funeral! ~~
923:
as you describe the a/an pair developing in
English; that is liaison in French developed as the final consonant was
1035:
958:
901:
720:
695:
524:
86:
17:
875:, but in most standard forms of English the A/An situation is the only example of liaison I can think of. --
497:• Poppies being symbolic of death comes from greek/roman mythology, where poppies were offered to the dead.
290:
209:
147:
117:
736:
393:
308:
256:
133:
1210:
477:
272:
341:
in this sense actually has a slightly different meaning than "vacation" or "holiday". In this sense,
1031:
954:
897:
868:
751:. An adjective is a word, like any other; if it starts with a vowel, use "an" before it and not "a".
687:
516:
355:
304:
252:
112:? I can only make out two words: stone and gold. Thank you. I need it for an article I am editing.--
653:
282:
1205:
This was very interesting! I never know the 'an' before a vowel rule, have always just winged it.
1153:
1108:
1079:
1068:
1007:
972:
940:
883:
810:
776:
614:
513:• my greek friend insists the root is different Surely this can't be coincidence? Any thoughts?
450:
408:
286:
205:
196:
143:
113:
732:
661:
636:
593:
436:
129:
1206:
864:
792:
584:
540:
473:
324:
268:
247:
What is the meaning implied in the film's name? Is it something similar to army withdrawal?
370:
351:
427:(commander of a retreating battalion?!). Eventually it hit me that men in question were
446:
They seem not to be of precisely the same origin, but the one is a synonym of the other.
1052:
1020:
971:, when host Graham Kerr would refer to his wife Trina and himself as "Treener and I." ←
755:
675:
572:
235:
179:
165:
587:, there is no relation between the two words, though the origin of each is uncertain.
333:
If I were going to translate the title, I would translate the non-military meaning of
1101:
1062:
1001:
933:
876:
770:
608:
559:
meant "head" and frequently was used of the seed heads of plants, such as the poppy.
380:
190:
657:
631:
588:
432:
1167:
Oooo yes! Ha Ha! Very good! (I had to think about it before the penny dropped!)
607:
If we're not certain of their origins, how do know they have no relation? -- ♬
1169:
1122:
872:
826:
788:
536:
320:
1048:
1016:
671:
568:
175:
161:
74:
507:
230:
What is the meaning implied in the name of 2011 British film "Retreat"?
863:
The A/An situation in
English is roughly equivalent to the concept of
498:
404:
To "retreat" is to "draw back", i.e. to pull back from someplace.
285:- which is not exactly a "holiday", at least in the usual sense.
108:
Could someone please translate this French sentence to
English:
378:. And if the article is interested in discussing his roles,
142:
I believe it refers to a stone with alleged magical powers.--
555:, which meant "care", especially care for the dead. Ancient
174:
And it should be enchâssée, since une pierre is feminine. --
758:
and has nothing to do with anything more complex than that.
1061:
Oh, thanks for that, Deor. How quickly we forget. -- ♬
79:
Welcome to the Knowledge Language Reference Desk Archives
561:
The American Heritage Dictionary of Indo-European Roots
506:• κώδεια is the ancient greek for a poppy head (i.e.
867:in the French language. The reasoning is to avoid
384:would be a better choice, as he has a tiny role in
110:Une pierre pour toucher les yeux, enchassié en or
787:For the reverse exception, how about an X-ray ?
749:we use "an" before the words start with a vowel
551:Modern Greek κηδεία descends from ancient Greek
490:Greek etymology entanglements: poppies and death
503:• κήδεια is the modern greek word for funeral
998:"What would you prefer, a apple or a orange?"
104:Need help in translating this French sentence
8:
563:says that the latter comes from the IE root
494:So these are the facts as i understand it:
1000:, a smorgasbord of glo'al stops. -- ♬
267:both meanings are intended in the title.
234:Information about the film can be found
49:
36:
65:
241:The official site says the following:
43:
7:
747:You had it right in your question:
32:
1152:Christmastime - an Yule event. ←
927:in certain situations, which is
765:and not necessarily about vowel
761:But remember, it's about vowel
472:gets 1,130,000 Google results.
1:
425:chef de bataillon en retraite
33:
585:this etymological dictionary
1230:
1215:16:04, 20 April 2012 (UTC)
1194:07:22, 21 April 2012 (UTC)
1161:11:25, 20 April 2012 (UTC)
1147:06:48, 19 April 2012 (UTC)
1116:01:48, 19 April 2012 (UTC)
1087:00:38, 19 April 2012 (UTC)
1071:22:06, 18 April 2012 (UTC)
1057:21:32, 18 April 2012 (UTC)
1040:20:57, 18 April 2012 (UTC)
1025:20:27, 18 April 2012 (UTC)
1010:20:20, 18 April 2012 (UTC)
980:00:40, 19 April 2012 (UTC)
963:20:57, 18 April 2012 (UTC)
948:20:30, 18 April 2012 (UTC)
906:20:16, 18 April 2012 (UTC)
891:19:57, 18 April 2012 (UTC)
851:07:33, 18 April 2012 (UTC)
818:23:37, 17 April 2012 (UTC)
797:23:18, 17 April 2012 (UTC)
779:22:20, 17 April 2012 (UTC)
741:21:43, 17 April 2012 (UTC)
725:21:40, 17 April 2012 (UTC)
700:14:25, 19 April 2012 (UTC)
680:17:36, 18 April 2012 (UTC)
666:07:25, 18 April 2012 (UTC)
652:Well, ω and η may reflect
642:04:38, 18 April 2012 (UTC)
617:01:37, 18 April 2012 (UTC)
599:22:26, 17 April 2012 (UTC)
577:22:23, 17 April 2012 (UTC)
545:19:30, 17 April 2012 (UTC)
529:18:53, 17 April 2012 (UTC)
482:15:57, 18 April 2012 (UTC)
458:00:43, 19 April 2012 (UTC)
441:07:33, 18 April 2012 (UTC)
416:23:42, 17 April 2012 (UTC)
398:19:16, 17 April 2012 (UTC)
360:17:32, 17 April 2012 (UTC)
329:17:22, 17 April 2012 (UTC)
313:17:12, 17 April 2012 (UTC)
295:16:39, 17 April 2012 (UTC)
277:16:16, 17 April 2012 (UTC)
261:16:13, 17 April 2012 (UTC)
214:13:02, 17 April 2012 (UTC)
199:12:58, 17 April 2012 (UTC)
184:10:36, 17 April 2012 (UTC)
170:09:00, 17 April 2012 (UTC)
152:08:17, 17 April 2012 (UTC)
138:08:13, 17 April 2012 (UTC)
122:08:04, 17 April 2012 (UTC)
236:in this Knowledge article
1045:Previous ref-desk thread
189:Lucky Pierre. :) -- ♬
160:it means "set in gold".
18:Knowledge:Reference desk
1015:of the car she was in.
374:, not something called
805:ex-ray. As opposed to
368:Cillian Murphy was in
87:current reference desk
969:The Galloping Gourmet
654:Proto-Indo-European
283:Retreat (spiritual)
583:(ec) According to
468:The search phrase
1168:
825:
690:comment added by
640:
597:
519:comment added by
443:
201:
156:If it's actually
93:
92:
73:
72:
1221:
1190:
1189:
1186:
1183:
1180:
1177:
1174:
1166:
1163:
1143:
1142:
1139:
1136:
1133:
1130:
1127:
1111:
1104:
1065:
1004:
943:
936:
886:
879:
847:
846:
843:
840:
837:
834:
831:
823:
773:
702:
634:
611:
591:
531:
470:"island retreat"
422:
193:
188:
75:
34:
1229:
1228:
1224:
1223:
1222:
1220:
1219:
1218:
1187:
1184:
1181:
1178:
1175:
1172:
1171:
1151:
1140:
1137:
1134:
1131:
1128:
1125:
1124:
1109:
1102:
1063:
1032:Dominus Vobisdu
1002:
955:Dominus Vobisdu
941:
934:
898:Dominus Vobisdu
884:
877:
844:
841:
838:
835:
832:
829:
828:
771:
754:It's all about
713:
685:
609:
514:
492:
386:The Dark Knight
371:The Dark Knight
232:
191:
106:
101:
30:
29:
28:
12:
11:
5:
1227:
1225:
1203:
1202:
1201:
1200:
1199:
1198:
1197:
1196:
1097:
1096:
1095:
1094:
1093:
1092:
1091:
1090:
1089:
1075:
1074:
1073:
991:
990:
989:
988:
987:
986:
985:
984:
983:
982:
911:
910:
909:
908:
860:
859:
858:
857:
856:
855:
854:
853:
782:
781:
759:
752:
744:
743:
717:65.128.159.201
712:
709:
708:
707:
706:
705:
704:
703:
692:137.108.145.39
649:
648:
647:
646:
645:
644:
622:
621:
620:
619:
602:
601:
580:
579:
548:
547:
521:137.108.145.39
491:
488:
487:
486:
485:
484:
463:
462:
461:
460:
419:
418:
401:
400:
376:The Dark Night
365:
364:
363:
362:
300:
299:
298:
297:
231:
228:
227:
226:
225:
224:
223:
222:
221:
220:
219:
218:
217:
216:
158:enchâssé en or
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:
1226:
1217:
1216:
1212:
1208:
1195:
1192:
1191:
1165:
1164:
1162:
1158:
1155:
1154:Baseball Bugs
1150:
1149:
1148:
1145:
1144:
1119:
1118:
1117:
1114:
1113:
1112:
1105:
1098:
1088:
1084:
1081:
1080:Baseball Bugs
1076:
1072:
1069:
1066:
1060:
1059:
1058:
1054:
1050:
1046:
1043:
1042:
1041:
1037:
1033:
1028:
1027:
1026:
1022:
1018:
1013:
1012:
1011:
1008:
1005:
999:
995:
994:
993:
992:
981:
977:
974:
973:Baseball Bugs
970:
966:
965:
964:
960:
956:
951:
950:
949:
946:
945:
944:
937:
930:
926:
922:
917:
916:
915:
914:
913:
912:
907:
903:
899:
894:
893:
892:
889:
888:
887:
880:
874:
870:
866:
862:
861:
852:
849:
848:
821:
820:
819:
815:
812:
811:Baseball Bugs
808:
804:
800:
799:
798:
794:
790:
786:
785:
784:
783:
780:
777:
774:
768:
764:
760:
757:
753:
750:
746:
745:
742:
738:
734:
729:
728:
727:
726:
722:
718:
710:
701:
697:
693:
689:
683:
682:
681:
677:
673:
669:
668:
667:
663:
659:
655:
651:
650:
643:
638:
633:
628:
627:
626:
625:
624:
623:
618:
615:
612:
606:
605:
604:
603:
600:
595:
590:
586:
582:
581:
578:
574:
570:
566:
562:
558:
554:
550:
549:
546:
542:
538:
534:
533:
532:
530:
526:
522:
518:
511:
509:
504:
501:
500:
495:
489:
483:
479:
475:
471:
467:
466:
465:
464:
459:
455:
452:
451:Baseball Bugs
448:
445:
444:
442:
438:
434:
430:
426:
421:
420:
417:
413:
410:
409:Baseball Bugs
406:
403:
402:
399:
395:
391:
387:
383:
382:
381:Batman Begins
377:
373:
372:
367:
366:
361:
357:
353:
349:
344:
340:
336:
332:
331:
330:
326:
322:
317:
316:
315:
314:
310:
306:
296:
292:
288:
287:AndrewWTaylor
284:
280:
279:
278:
274:
270:
265:
264:
263:
262:
258:
254:
248:
245:
242:
239:
237:
229:
215:
211:
207:
206:Jeanne Boleyn
203:
202:
200:
197:
194:
187:
186:
185:
181:
177:
173:
172:
171:
167:
163:
159:
155:
154:
153:
149:
145:
144:Jeanne Boleyn
141:
140:
139:
135:
131:
126:
125:
124:
123:
119:
115:
114:Jeanne Boleyn
111:
103:
98:
96:
88:
84:
83:
80:
77:
76:
68:
61:
57:
53:
47:
42:
39:
38:Language desk
35:
27:
23:
19:
1204:
1170:
1123:
1107:
1106:
997:
968:
939:
938:
928:
924:
920:
882:
881:
827:
809:zylophone. ←
806:
802:
766:
762:
748:
733:AlexTiefling
714:
686:— Preceding
564:
560:
515:— Preceding
512:
505:
502:
496:
493:
428:
424:
390:69.62.243.48
385:
379:
375:
369:
347:
342:
338:
334:
301:
249:
246:
243:
240:
233:
157:
130:AlexTiefling
109:
107:
94:
78:
1207:Napltomatic
873:intrusive R
474:Alansplodge
431:officers. —
269:Adam Bishop
1064:Jack of Oz
1003:Jack of Oz
772:Jack of Oz
610:Jack of Oz
352:Marco polo
305:Baradyarad
253:Baradyarad
192:Jack of Oz
869:diaeresis
50:<<
925:retained
731:apple'.
688:unsigned
517:unsigned
99:April 17
67:April 18
46:April 16
26:Language
24: |
22:Archives
20: |
1157:carrots
1083:carrots
976:carrots
929:exactly
921:exactly
865:liaison
814:carrots
801:Right,
767:letters
756:euphony
711:Article
658:Tamfang
632:Lesgles
589:Lesgles
508:codeine
454:carrots
433:Tamfang
429:retired
412:carrots
348:retreat
343:retreat
339:Retreat
335:retreat
89:pages.
1103:Jayron
935:Jayron
878:Jayron
789:StuRat
763:sounds
557:κώδεια
537:StuRat
321:StuRat
565:keuə-
553:κῆδος
499:poppy
69:: -->
63:: -->
62:: -->
56:April
44:<
16:<
1211:talk
1053:talk
1049:Deor
1036:talk
1021:talk
1017:Angr
959:talk
902:talk
793:talk
737:talk
721:talk
696:talk
676:talk
672:Angr
662:talk
637:talk
594:talk
573:talk
569:Deor
541:talk
525:talk
478:talk
437:talk
394:talk
356:talk
325:talk
309:talk
291:talk
281:See
273:talk
257:talk
210:talk
180:talk
176:Xuxl
166:talk
162:Angr
148:talk
134:talk
118:talk
388:.
337:.
60:May
52:Mar
1213:)
1159:→
1110:32
1085:→
1067:♬
1055:)
1047:.
1038:)
1023:)
1006:♬
978:→
961:)
942:32
932:--
904:)
885:32
816:→
803:an
795:)
775:♬
739:)
723:)
698:)
678:)
664:)
613:♬
575:)
543:)
527:)
510:)
480:)
456:→
439:)
414:→
396:)
358:)
327:)
311:)
293:)
275:)
259:)
238:.
212:)
195:♬
182:)
168:)
150:)
136:)
120:)
58:|
54:|
1209:(
1188:s
1185:r
1182:i
1179:f
1176:b
1173:D
1141:s
1138:r
1135:i
1132:f
1129:b
1126:D
1078:←
1051:(
1034:(
1019:(
957:(
900:(
845:s
842:r
839:i
836:f
833:b
830:D
807:a
791:(
735:(
719:(
694:(
674:(
660:(
639:)
635:(
596:)
592:(
571:(
539:(
523:(
476:(
449:←
435:(
392:(
354:(
323:(
307:(
289:(
271:(
255:(
208:(
178:(
164:(
146:(
132:(
116:(
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.