etymology
I am surprised that this word is not here yet....now it is.
Etymology is the study of the origins of words. Some words have been derived from other languages, possibly in a changed form (the source words are called etymons). Through old texts and comparisons with other languages, etymologists try to reconstruct the history of words — when they entered a language, from what source, and how their form and meaning changed.
A word often misused and mispronounced 'entymology' which is the study of insects!
Etymology is the study of the origins of words. Some words have been derived from other languages, possibly in a changed form (the source words are called etymons). Through old texts and comparisons with other languages, etymologists try to reconstruct the history of words — when they entered a language, from what source, and how their form and meaning changed.
A word often misused and mispronounced 'entymology' which is the study of insects!
Etymology in action:
"The etymologist spent hours describing the origin of the word "nice" to the students. Unfortunately no one understood what he was talking about and were all in a deep slumber after 10 minutes."
"The dean spent weeks trying to track down the entymologist to give a lecture on the derivation of the word 'aunt.' When the entymologist finally arrived discussing the workings of one of the most interesting insects on Earth, the dean was promptly fired for being a fraud."
"The etymologist spent hours describing the origin of the word "nice" to the students. Unfortunately no one understood what he was talking about and were all in a deep slumber after 10 minutes."
"The dean spent weeks trying to track down the entymologist to give a lecture on the derivation of the word 'aunt.' When the entymologist finally arrived discussing the workings of one of the most interesting insects on Earth, the dean was promptly fired for being a fraud."
Etymology
The study of the origin of words.
Not to be confused with "entomology", the study of bugs. "Entymology" is not a word, despite what the other definition says.
Not to be confused with "entomology", the study of bugs. "Entymology" is not a word, despite what the other definition says.
The etymologist pointed out that his profession could not be entomology because "entomology" comes from the Ancient Greek word "entomos", meaning "cut", whereas "etymology" came from the Ancient Greek word "etúmos", meaning "true"
etymological terrorist
A person who purposefully misuses a term or tries to appropriate a term based on historical meanings in order to advance a political agenda.
Terms some etymological terrorists have used in the past:
Isolationist to refer to non-interventionism
Classical libertarian to refer to communism
and more.
Terms some etymological terrorists have used in the past:
Isolationist to refer to non-interventionism
Classical libertarian to refer to communism
and more.
Bill Kristol is being an etymological terrorist when he calls people who don't want to always be involved in a war "isolationists" when in fact isolationism is what North Korea has and non-interventionism is what Switzerland has.
Dirty Sanchez (etymological)
A Dirty Sanchez occurs when the passive partner (male or female) is sodomized and a coating of mucus/feces/lube remains on the shaft of the active partner's penis. He pulls out and the passive partner fellates him, drawing the member into his/her mouth through tightly pursed lips. This acts to squeegee the matter from the penis into a thin line or bead encircling the mouth. It forms a John Waters's moustache-like deposit on the recipient's upper lip like the moustache on a Mexican guy (e.g., from a 1930s movie; hence "Sanchez"), or John Waters. (A "Filthy Waters" is equally descriptive, but that term hasn't caught on perhaps due to its being a bit esoteric.)
I butt-fucked my girlfriend last night and she got the cutest little Dirty Sanchez when she sucked me clean. Thus the Dirty Sanchez (etymological) is an artifact of another act—it just happens; no fingers needed.
monty pythonesque application of the principles of logic and etymology
The standard logic used by such people as the knights of the round table. It's sound logic that can only be understood by men of science.
E.g. You want to test if a woman is a witch. You burn witches, but you also burn wood. This means witches burn because they are made of wood. Wood also floats in water, just like a duck. So therefore, if she weighs the same as a duck, then she is made out of wood, and is therefore a witch. Now you must weigh her on a set of large scales with a duck, and if they weigh the same, she is guilty of being a witch.
E.g. You want to test if a woman is a witch. You burn witches, but you also burn wood. This means witches burn because they are made of wood. Wood also floats in water, just like a duck. So therefore, if she weighs the same as a duck, then she is made out of wood, and is therefore a witch. Now you must weigh her on a set of large scales with a duck, and if they weigh the same, she is guilty of being a witch.
Well, Bernard, that is some Monty Pythonesque application of the principles of logic and etymology right there!