Re: Looking
for a word
Posted by James Briggs on March
27, 2003 In Reply to: Re: Looking for a word
posted by ESC on March 27, 2003
: : : : : The concept of 'gaining
pleasure from the misfortune of others' is covered by a single word in German
- 'Schadenfreude'. There's a request in today's Times to come up with an English
single-word equivalent. I thought the wordsmiths among you out there would like
to take up the challenge! How about it?
: : : : "Sadism" and "dispathy" don't
quite cut it, I suppose.
: : : How about Acerbovitism, from the L*tin acerbus,
meaning sour, and vitis meaning a grapevine?
: : Of course, if someone's Gr**k
is better than mine (which would hardly be difficult), something similar to the
above could probably be done with a -philia construct.
: This is probably too
simple, but, gloat?
: Main Entry: 1gloat
: Pronunciation: 'glOt
: Function:
intransitive verb
: Etymology: probably of Scandinavian origin; akin to Old
Norse glotta to grin scornfully
: Date: 1676
: 1 obsolete : to look or glance
admiringly or amorously
: 2 : to observe or think about something with triumphant
and often malicious satisfaction, gratification, or delight
: From Merriam-Webster
online.
Gloat - a fine suggestion. I'll let you all know what, if any, suggestions
appear in the Times - they don't always get answers to their questions. A year
or so ago I asked why the Engish speaking nations mainly use a decimal 'point',
whereas most European countries use a decimal 'comma'. I never had a reply. Any
ideas?
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