Positively Seeking Orphaned/Unpaired Negatives.

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Re: Positively Seeking Orphaned/Unpaired Negatives.

Post by Algot Runeman »

Why aren't 'gruntled' and 'sheveled' words? 12 Lonely Negatives — http://t.co/fnZjkcKfeW #fromlastnight <-- via @mental_floss and @scalzi on Twitter
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Re: Positively Seeking Orphaned/Unpaired Negatives.

Post by Algot Runeman »

Are you immune?

For a human fighting sickness, that's a good thing. Nature has even given us a system for it.

The definition for mune isn't what I hoped. " dialectal variant of moon" http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mune

But a search showed me etymology of some help. (Screen shot follows)
Image
https://www.google.com/#q=define:+immune

I think we should consider adding immune to our stable list of orphaned negatives.
Aren't we all constantly searching for new ones???

Based on the available information, I think it's "ready for service."
Thoughts?
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Re: Positively Seeking Orphaned/Unpaired Negatives.

Post by Algot Runeman »

The last update to this list was in 2008. Clearly we've stalled. We've also flagged in our efforts to search for these tricky words. We must resort to just stumbling upon them when they pop up as happened today with the ODO Word of the Day.

Therefore, I propose ineluctable for which the ODO lists no equivalent "eluctable" which should make it eligible here.

abrogate
abstain
dischevelled
discombobulate
discomfit
disembowel
disgust
disparage
dyspeptic
hapless (*)
impeccable
inadvertent(ly)
ineffable (*)
ineluctable
inevitable
insouciant
nonplussed
ruthless
unbeknownst
unflappable
ungainly (*)
unkempt (*)
unmentionables
unseemly
unsightly
untoward (*)
unwieldy

Challenged segment of list:
ageless (* - incorporated from World Wide Words) (challenged)
countless (*) (challenged)
debilitate (challenged)
debunk (challenged)
disconsolate (*) (challenged)
dismantle (*) (challenged)
immaculate (challenged)
incongruous (challenged)
indiscriminiate (challenged)
innocent (*) (challenged)
inviolate (challenged)
nondescript (challenged)
off kilter (challenged for being two words)
uncouth (challenged)
unrequited (challenged)
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Re: Positively Seeking Orphaned/Unpaired Negatives.

Post by Algot Runeman »

Proposal to add a new word:

incipid

in·sip·id
inˈsipid/
adjective
adjective: insipid
lacking flavor.

however, sapid is the stand-alone positive, and it might be argued sipid/sapid is just a spelling issue. Still, I like the fit into this list because sapid is so rare as to be nonexistent in today's usage.

Check the Google Books N-gram graph.

It is interesting to see that "incipid" is also in decline. Maybe foods and even life itself are more flavorful than before!
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Re: Positively Seeking Orphaned/Unpaired Negatives.

Post by Algot Runeman »

Proposed addition to the list: inscrutable.

Impossible to understand or interpret.
Origin
Late Middle English: from ecclesiastical Latin inscrutabilis, from in- ‘not’ + scrutari ‘to search’ (see scrutiny).

Nobody I've ever heard says their spouse is "scrutable". (Well, maybe only a few say their spouse is inscrutable, either. They usually just say they are jerks.)

The ODO does not include "scrutable" as a word, but does include the regularly-used negative.

We should all be able to search this list and be able to find this lovely unpaired negative word!

Lodge objections...
Cabin objections, if you prefer...
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Re: Positively Seeking Orphaned/Unpaired Negatives.

Post by voralfred »

dis-sipate ?
sipate does not seem to exist; contrary to solve, while "dissolve" is proposed as a synonym to dissipate
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Re: Positively Seeking Orphaned/Unpaired Negatives.

Post by Algot Runeman »

I do like the proposal, especially considering how few of them there have recently been, but...

Looking at the definition of dissipate, the etymology creates some concern.

"Late Middle English: from Latin dissipat- ‘scattered’, from the verb dissipare, from dis- ‘apart, widely’ + supare ‘to throw’."

That gives me the thought to compare dissipate with distribute (not meaning negative tribute) and disperse (widely scatter - not negative)

When used as a negation, "dis-" comes from usage like discomfort with an origin of "des- (expressing reversal) + conforter ‘to comfort’ (see comfort)."

To include dissipate, we would have to agree that "apart" is a "reversal" or negation.

As always, we ask:
What is the will of the forum?
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Re: Positively Seeking Orphaned/Unpaired Negatives.

Post by E Pericoloso Sporgersi »

Algot Runeman wrote: ...
When used as a negation, "dis-" comes from usage like discomfort with an origin of "des- (expressing reversal) + conforter ‘to comfort’ (see comfort)."

To include dissipate, we would have to agree that "apart" is a "reversal" or negation.

As always, we ask:
What is the will of the forum?
Disparate ?
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Re: Positively Seeking Orphaned/Unpaired Negatives.

Post by Algot Runeman »

Code: Select all

Disparate ?
Checking my go-to etymology Online Etymology Dictionary, this seems to be getting closer to the "unpaired negative" expectation.
c. 1600, "unlike in kind, essentially different, having no common ground," from Latin disparatus, past participle of disparare "divide, separate," from dis- "apart" (see dis-) + parare "get ready, prepare" (from PIE root *pere- (1) "to produce, procure").

The meaning seems to have been influenced in Latin by dispar "unequal, unlike" (from apparently unrelated Latin par "equal, equal-sized, well-matched"). Related: Disparately; disparateness. As a noun, "one of two or more things or characters so unlike that they cannot be compared with each other," 1580s.
Disparate seems to have gained a negative connotation beyond the sense of "apart/spread out".

What say you all?
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Re: Positively Seeking Orphaned/Unpaired Negatives.

Post by voralfred »

OK, so my personal opinion, starting from after the last update of January 20th 2017


incipid seem to be a mispint for insipid; since "sapid", though rare, does exist, I think that it really is the positive of "insipid", with just a change of vowel

inscrutable should belong to the list; it is indeed the negative of the inexistent "scrutable"

dissipate after thinking about it, I'd rather remove my proposal; here "dis" is more "apart, widely" than a negative

disparate contrary to the preceding one, here "dis" really means that the two disparate objects/notions/whatever do not from a pair, so it is a negative, so I would add it in the list; but it is a bit ambiguous. I am not as convinced as for inscrutable.
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Re: Positively Seeking Orphaned/Unpaired Negatives.

Post by E Pericoloso Sporgersi »

Would dystopian fit the list?
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Re: Positively Seeking Orphaned/Unpaired Negatives.

Post by voralfred »

E Pericoloso Sporgersi wrote:Would dystopian fit the list?
Well, it does have a positive, namely utopian.

In fact, there is some ambiguity about the etymology of the word "utopia" which can be "no place" from the greek ου-τοπος , or a "good place" ευ-τοπος

dystopia would be the negative of utopia as "good place"

But utopia as "no place" would itself be a negative without a positive since "topia" alone does not exist.
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Re: Positively Seeking Orphaned/Unpaired Negatives.

Post by voralfred »

Straight from the WoTD :

apterous : a winged animal is never called "pterous"
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Re: Positively Seeking Orphaned/Unpaired Negatives.

Post by Algot Runeman »

Never to say "Never!"

I would like to sidle up to the word "inimical" for consideration in the list. It may turn out to be a stretch, though.
Tracing back trough the Latin language roots, it is clear that it is a negation of friendship. "Inimicus" - enemy by way of not being a friend in-amicus.
That clearly suggests a spelling convenience, "inimical" instead of "inamical".
Okay, but nobody says "amical" either. They spell the word for friendly support as "amicable", as in "an amicable divorce".

That leaves us with the choice, I think.
Is inimical a misspelling of inamicable or an orphaned negative?

I think I enjoy these "edgy" questions. I hope somebody else does, too.
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Re: Positively Seeking Orphaned/Unpaired Negatives.

Post by Algot Runeman »

Double down!

I am proposing this second word the same day day.

deprecate

I pray you. Consider this word. In its current form, it is clearly a negation, but the trail back to "pray for" vs. "pray against" is too long...This word should be considered an orphaned negative.
Etymology Online wrote:deprecate (v.)

1620s, "to pray against or for deliverance from, pray the removal or deliverance from," from Latin deprecatus, past participle of deprecari "to pray (something) away," from de "away" (see de-) + precari "to pray" (from PIE root *prek- "to ask, entreat"). Meaning "to express disapproval, urge against" is from 1640s. Related: Deprecated, deprecating.
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Re: Positively Seeking Orphaned/Unpaired Negatives.

Post by Algot Runeman »

Trifecta!

Two words in one day
Might be okay.
Let it simply suffice,
Thrice is also nice.

disparage

Regard or represent as being of little worth.

Some may disagree. Some may even simply disparage the suggestion. Nobody, however, would agree if I paraged or even tried to parage some idea.

Again quoting from Online Etymology Dictionary
disparage (v.)

late 14c., "degrade socially" (for marrying below rank or without proper ceremony), from Anglo-French and Old French desparagier (Modern French déparager) "reduce in rank, degrade, devalue, depreciate," originally "to marry unequally, marry to one of inferior condition or rank," and thus, by extension, to bring on oneself or one's family the disgrace or dishonor involved in this, from des- "away" (see dis-) + parage "rank, lineage" (see peer (n.)).

Also from late 14c. as "injure or dishonor by a comparison," especially by treating as equal or inferior to what is of less dignity, importance, or value. Sense of "belittle, undervalue, criticize or censure unjustly" is by 1530s. Related: Disparaged; disparaging; disparagingly.
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