Pedants' Paradise

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

As to synonymous - originally it referred to a word that meant the same as another one, and by extension a whole phrase; that we can't think of a satisfactory equivalent for what is meant here shows there's clearly a semantic gap, and synonymous might as well fill it!

"Epitome"?


(Oh no - that comes after Christmas, doesn't it? )

[jean]

On that basis the tune used for "Good King Václav" IS a carol, with original words for spring time.

Its for springtime, certainly - but do you know the steps?

[french frank]

No two separate words are perfectly synonymous; there will always be differences of denotation and connotation.

Therefore it is possible for a word to be more or less synonymous with its 'pair'.

But the usage is different here. It was not two separate words, and was a figurative use anyway: The carol 'I saw three ships' doesn't mean exactly the same, roughly the same or somewhat the same as the word 'Christmas'. It evokes Christmas, is possibly redolent of Christmastide or it makes one think, 'Ah, Christmas must be here again.'

The nearest definition in the OED is: "In extended sense, said of words or phrases which denote things that imply one another". You might say that 'I saw three ships' implies Christmas; but does 'Christmas' imply 'I saw three ships' in any way that could be considered equivalence?

I don't think 'Christmas carol' can (now) be limited to music or a song for dancing, since there are modern carols which were never danced to.

[vinteuil]

But the usage is different here.

... o yes, I quite agree that the usage here is slovenly, and I wdn't defend it.

My queries above [ #1914, #1919 ] were more in response to what I thought was your original query - viz, was the form "most synonymous" tenable; in the same way that some object to forms such as "most unique". I think one can argue that there are cases where "most synonymous" is valid.

Your objection to "(this carol) is most synonymous with Christmas" is the same as the objection I wd have to phrases like "Mince pies mean Christmas" - or "Christmas means mince pies".

[jean]

..."Mince pies mean Christmas"...

If only they did - but they've been on sale for months!

[jean]

I don't think 'Christmas carol' can (now) be limited to music or a song for dancing, since there are modern carols which were never danced to.

I know. But if you can't be pedantic here, where can you?

[french frank]

My queries above [ #1914, #1919 ] were more in response to what I thought was your original query - viz, was the form "most synonymous" tenable; in the same way that some object to forms such as "most unique". I think one can argue that there are cases where "most synonymous" is valid.

Score draw, then My mind was engaged on the specific example, but I do see your point. I still would dislike any interpretation that didn't imply an exactness, a degree of equivalence that offered an unmeasurable opportunity to differentiate between more and less. In other words, if the difference were quantifiable in such a way, then synonymity would be lost.

[french frank]

But if you can't be pedantic here, where can you?

Well, to be pedantic, I think there are a number of alternatives on the internet, often called Pedants' Corner. But I'm only answering the question, not requesting anyone to move elsewhere.

[doversoul1]

Requiae

Tomorrow’s CD Review:

11.20am New Releases: Requiae

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b04t91rg

Maybe I should post this on the Pedants’ Paradise but is requiae plural of requiem?

[Roehre]

Tomorrow’s CD Review:

11.20am New Releases: Requiae

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b04t91rg

Maybe I should post this on the Pedants’ Paradise but is requiae plural of requiem?

No.
English plural of Requiem is Requiems, the latin one Missae da Requiem

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Talking of Christmas Carols, consider ",Past Three A Clock" ( not "O' Clock").

[jean]

No!

[doversoul1]

No.
English plural of Requiem is Requiems, the latin one Missae da Requiem

Thank you. So what is/are Requiae?

[richardfinegold]

Tomorrow’s CD Review:

11.20am New Releases: Requiae

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b04t91rg

Maybe I should post this on the Pedants’ Paradise but is requiae plural of requiem?

I'm dying to find out.

[ardcarp]

...sounds like pretentiousness on the part of whoever posts up the blurb on the website. Dona eis requiem surely translates as 'give them peace', so if 'requiem' is a noun meaning 'peace', you surely can't have 'peaces'. If a Requiem has come to mean a piece of music honouring [?] the dead, then in English, Requiems must surely be the plural. Come on, Jean, expand on your 'No!'

I think I should have used the word 'rest' rather than 'peace'.