Interesting facts about the English language

[Geoff-Allen]

Hope you are all well!

Here's a little something you might enjoy -

The 1066 Norman Conquest drastically changed the English language. When the Normans (French) conquered England, they brought with them thousands of French words associated with the church, court systems, and government, such as baron, noble, parliament, governor, banquet.

Full list here -

55 Bizarre Facts about the English Language | Fun Facts

Enjoy!

 

[shunyadragon]

English is the most mongrel language in the history of humanity and it is still evolving.

 

[Revoltingest]

"Enormity" doesn't mean largeness of size.
It means heinous / atrocious.

I once heard the son of a famous architect praise "the enormity" his father's work.
The old man, if he knows his English, must have spun in his grave.

 

[sun rise]

I really like Peter, Paul & Mary's take on English and for that matter our cultural blending (in spite of futile efforts to stop it):

 

[Skwim]

"Enormity" doesn't mean largeness of size.
It means heinous / atrocious.

I once heard the son of a famous architect praise "the enormity" his father's work.
The old man, if he knows his English, must have spun in his grave.

enormity
noun
enor·mi·ty | \ i-ˈnȯr-mə-tē\
plural enormities
Definition of enormity

1 : an outrageous, improper, vicious, or immoral act the enormities of state power— Susan Sontag other enormities too juvenile to mention— Richard Freedman
2 : the quality or state of being immoderate, monstrous, or outrageous especially : great wickedness the enormity of the crimes committed during the Third Reich — G. A. Craig
3 : the quality or state of being huge : immensity the inconceivable enormity of the universe
4 : a quality of momentous importance or impact the enormity of the decision

huge
adjective
\ ˈhyüj
, ˈyüj\
huger; hugest
Definition of huge
: very large or extensive: such as
a : of great size or area
Source: Merriam-Webster Dictionary


.​

 

[Revoltingest]

enormity
noun
enor·mi·ty | \ i-ˈnȯr-mə-tē\
plural enormities
Definition of enormity

1 : an outrageous, improper, vicious, or immoral act the enormities of state power— Susan Sontag other enormities too juvenile to mention— Richard Freedman
2 : the quality or state of being immoderate, monstrous, or outrageous especially : great wickedness the enormity of the crimes committed during the Third Reich — G. A. Craig
3 : the quality or state of being huge : immensity the inconceivable enormity of the universe
4 : a quality of momentous importance or impact the enormity of the decision

huge
adjective
\ ˈhyüj
, ˈyüj\
huger; hugest
Definition of huge
: very large or extensive: such as
a : of great size or area
Source: Merriam-Webster Dictionary


.​

That 3rd meaning is an emerging one due to error.
Ref...
The Grammarphobia Blog: The evolution of 'enormity'

 

[Skwim]

That 3rd meaning is an emerging one due to error.
Ref...
The Grammarphobia Blog: The evolution of 'enormity'

Unfortunately, or maybe fortunately, grammarians don't get to choose definitions, popular usage does.

.

 

[Revoltingest]

Unfortunately, or maybe fortunately, grammarians don't get to choose definitions, popular usage does.

.

And "heinous" is still the primary usage.
But I agree that it will flip flop because
it just looks so similar to "embiggenitude".

Interesting....that last word isn't flagged
by spell check.

 

[oldbadger]

That 3rd meaning is an emerging one due to error.
Ref...
The Grammarphobia Blog: The evolution of 'enormity'

In the English Language, error becomes correctness, irregularity becomes regularity.

It's changing by the year..... or even more quickly than that.

 

[Revoltingest]

In the English Language, error becomes correctness, irregularity becomes regularity.

It's changing by the year..... or even more quickly than that.

Of course.
But when intending a tertiary definition, one should ensure that
the primary one doesn't convey a contrary or awkward meaning.

 

[oldbadger]

Of course.
But when intending a tertiary definition, one should ensure that
the primary one doesn't convey a contrary or awkward meaning.

It just depends upon who is speaking, to whom, and when, and where......
Example:-

Geezer shows me his highly tuned motor (that's a fast vehicle, Revolting), so if I like it I say,' That's well sick, bro'.

That just means I think the motor is 'very very cool' and I don't mean that the bloke is my sibling, just a friend. And 'cool' doesn't mean cold, because the geezer just drove up in it. And 'geezer' doesn't mean any kind of super-heated gush of water.

Hell, Revolting..... where you done been?

that's sick - Urban Dictionary

https://www.urbandictionary.com › define › term=that's sick7 Nov 2013 - Something that is exceptionally cool. www.thatsick.co.uk.

 

[Revoltingest]

It just depends upon who is speaking, to whom, and when, and where......
Example:-

Geezer shows me his highly tuned motor (that's a fast vehicle, Revolting), so if I like it I say,' That's well sick, bro'.

That just means I think the motor is 'very very cool' and I don't mean that the bloke is my sibling, just a friend. And 'cool' doesn't mean cold, because the geezer just drove up in it. And 'geezer' doesn't mean any kind of super-heated gush of water.

Hell, Revolting..... where you done been?

that's sick - Urban Dictionary

https://www.urbandictionary.com › define › term=that's sick7 Nov 2013 - Something that is exceptionally cool. www.thatsick.co.uk.

You're giving examples of something we agree upon.

 

[ChristineM]

Hope you are all well!

Here's a little something you might enjoy -

The 1066 Norman Conquest drastically changed the English language. When the Normans (French) conquered England, they brought with them thousands of French words associated with the church, court systems, and government, such as baron, noble, parliament, governor, banquet.

Full list here -

55 Bizarre Facts about the English Language | Fun Facts

Enjoy!

Their legasy is around 40,000 words in the english language are of french origin. Some spellings the same "garage", "parking"... some slightly different "pork=porc", "beef=boeuf"

The Saxons also brought a lot of words with them, the modern swear words, the f word, c word etc are down to them as well as "freedom" and "lovely"

More recently words of far east origin. Indian (i like your "avatar") and chinese (do you want "ketchup")

And pre Saxon we got some latin, "pro forma"... "vice versa"

Before that celtic "basket"... "dad/daddy"

What a mix up

 

[Audie]

Their legasy is around 40,000 words in the english language are of french origin. Some spellings the same "garage", "parking"... some slightly different "pork=porc", "beef=boeuf"

The Saxons also brought a lot of words with them, the modern swear words, the f word, c word etc are down to them as well as "freedom" and "lovely"

More recently words of far east origin. Indian (i like your "avatar") and chinese (do you want "ketchup")

And pre Saxon we got some latin, "pro forma"... "vice versa"

Before that celtic "basket"... "dad/daddy"

What a mix up

I wonder which languages have not contributed anything.

 

[Tumah]

"Enormity" doesn't mean largeness of size.
It means heinous / atrocious.

I once heard the son of a famous architect praise "the enormity" his father's work.
The old man, if he knows his English, must have spun in his grave.

 

[ChristineM]

I wonder which languages have not contributed anything.

I have no idea, there are even a few Bantu and Swahili word

I can't even say American because Americanisms are in there too (and in french much to the disquiet of le Académie française)

 

[Audie]

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Oh yeah???

Well, whatabout "enormosity"?

 

[Audie]

I have no idea, there are even a few Bantu and Swahili word

I can't even say American because Americanisms are in there too (and in french much to the disquiet of le Académie française)

Have you heard of Swahili time?

 

[ChristineM]

Have you heard of Swahili time?

Yes, rather like roman timekeeping, with the first hour at sunrise. In (that part of) Africa its always 6:00 am (0:00 Swahili time). Was more complicated in Rome, with the first hour ranging between 4:00am and 8:00am with an even bigger range in the far northern empire.

 

[Revoltingest]

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View attachment 33454

Aye, "enormous" is where the confusion begins.

Mainstream dictionaries show the bigness definition as tertiary....
Definition of enormity | Dictionary.com
noun, plural e·nor·mi·ties
outrageous or heinous character; atrociousness:the enormity of war crimes.
something outrageous or heinous, as an offense:The bombing of the defenseless population was an enormity beyond belief.
greatness of size, scope, extent, or influence; immensity:The enormity of such an act of generosity is staggering.

Definition of ENORMITY
Definition of enormity
1: an outrageous, improper, vicious, or immoral actthe enormities of state power— Susan Sontagother enormities too juvenile to mention— Richard Freedman
2: the quality or state of being immoderate, monstrous, or outrageousespecially : great wickednessthe enormity of the crimes committed during the Third Reich— G. A. Craig
3: the quality or state of being huge : IMMENSITYthe inconceivable enormity of the universe
4: a quality of momentous importance or impactthe enormity of the decision
Synonyms & Anton