"That's a great deal to make one word mean," Alice said in a thoughtful tone. "When I make a word do a lot of work like that," said Humpty Dumpty, "I always pay it extra."
Saturday, 30 June 2012
Previse
I came across a word that was new to me the other day - prevised. So I did what I usually do and looked it up.
To previse means to know in advance; foresee; notify in advance; or forewarn.
Prevised therefore means known in advance, imagined beforehnad, or forewarned.
My daughter Helen commented in November 2008 in her Blog that she was now keeping a notebook of new words that she came across during her reading. "This week I bought a lovely little leather bound book to write new words in as I read them . I've added a few from "1984", but my favourite has to be persiflage (from the French persifler) which means banter." I later discovered that my older daughter, Bryony, also kept a similar notebook.
This inspired me to create a Word blog. This will include both new words, favourite words and the origins of phrases that we commonly use. A definition and some comment, perhaps even a relevant quotation, will acompany the word or phrase.
“I am a Bear of Very Little Brain, and long words bother me.” - Winnie the Pooh
Since it makes me instantly think of revise, the explanation is... well, almost self-explaining, I would say :-)
ReplyDeletePity I can't previse when I'm writing! Think of the time I'd save revising!
ReplyDelete