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Never a better born Englishman

Posted by Henry on September 23, 2004

In Reply to: Re: Trying=annoying posted by Smokey Stover on September 23, 2004

: : : : She is a bit "trying"="annoying"? obnoxious?

: : :
: : : I think it's closer to annoying and irritating than obnoxious, but you have the idea.

: : Again, questions about single words are easily answered using a dictionary. This site is for phrases.

: "These are the times that try men's souls." (Tom Paine, American patriot.) And these are the women who will test your patience. Same verb, so to speak. "Trying" is a so-called verbal, in this case a present participle used as an adjective, the original verb being "try = test". SS

SS - I'm not sure I'd call Paine an American patriot. Here's a description from one website;
[Thomas Paine] was detached from local patriotisms and national interests, a delegate at large in the cause of human rights, concerned with spreading the gospel of freedom in all lands.
And here's a strangely logical sentence from another; But his radical views on religion would destroy his success, and by the end of his life, only a handful of people attended his funeral.

The fate of his body is a mystery!
I will dance to Tom Paine's bones, dance to Tom Paine's bones,
Dance in the oldest boots I own to the rhythm of Tom Paine's bones.