"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."
Sunday, 6 April 2014
Hear, hear!
I once struggled with whether it was 'Here, here!' or 'Hear, hear!' when someone was shouting their agreement in the Houses of Parliament. The answer is 'Hear, hear' and there is a good justification for that on this page.
Now there's interesting. I'm not sure that I've ever given it any thought but I think had I written it I would have used 'hear hear' or would I have used 'here here'? Hmmmm.
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
A very good explanation; i hear you!
ReplyDeleteNow there's interesting. I'm not sure that I've ever given it any thought but I think had I written it I would have used 'hear hear' or would I have used 'here here'? Hmmmm.
ReplyDelete