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Mad as a cut snake! And where does the word 'dill' come from - apart from describing me

Posted by Bob on September 30, 2003

In Reply to: Mad as a cut snake! And where does the word 'dill' come from - apart from describing me posted by Lotg on September 30, 2003

: : : : : : : : We've recently moved house and the only dictionary to surface so far in the unpacking is my partner's Collins - which I'm hear to tell you is an awful dictionary.

: : : : : : : : So yesterday someone used the word 'parapetetic' (spelling???). This is a word I've heard before and I love the sound of it, but have no idea what it means, and I can't find it in David's Collins dictionary. Is it derived from parapet? If I've spelt it incorrectly, then probably not. If it is, then it makes no sense in the sentence in which it was used yesterday.

: : : : : : : : Oh, and yes, I do know there's no such word as 'dictionaryless'. That was just a desperate plea for help.

: : : : : : : Parapetetic basically deals w/ someone who tends to "walk around." For example, they said Jesus was a parapetetic teacher because he taught as he walked.... Guy

: : : : : : Thanks Guy

: : : : : Peripatetic. From the Greek "peri," around, as in perimeter, or periphrastic. At one time, peripatetic was more or less reserved for Aristotelians.

: : : : Ahhh, so are these both valid words? I'm thinking, in the context I heard it, it was probably the latter that was meant, and I assume para, instead of peri.

: : : There's just one word, and it's spelled "peripatetic."

: :
: : Goddess, it's impossible to ever be dictionaryless if you're online.

: : www.onelook.com links to M-W Online and to many other dictionaries, encyclopedias, etc, and via AHD or Columbia Ency, to www.bartleby.com, which has an entire reference shelf online free. If you use MS IE (possibly others--I've never checked) you can easily add a OneLook link that sits at the top of your screen with the toolbars. Never need to use a paper dictionary again!

: :::: I feel like a total dill! You're quite right, and frankly it's frightening that it didn't occur to me. Only today, friends were pointing out that the fact that I'm working two contracts, setting up two businesses, managing a 2000 acre farm from afar, buying a new house, selling 2 properties, going through divorce and assisting my partner in his divorce, property settlement and child access situation might be getting on top of me a bit, cos I keep missing things such as that. Hmmmmm. Methinks they're right!!!

: But I have to say, this website provides me some welcome relief from my intensely insane lifestyle. Having said that, I'm now going to sit down with a glass of red and watch a mindless crime show - the little things can be so rewarding!

: So what would be the word (polite word that is) to describe someone such as myself. Madasacutsnake!

Another cool site (second to this one, of course) is www.refdesk.com It's indispensible. Nuff said.

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