Half a croissant, on a plate, with a sign in front of it saying '50c'
h a l f b a k e r y
The leaning tower of Piezo

idea: add, search, annotate, link, view, overview, recent, by name, random

meta: news, help, about, links, report a problem

account: browse anonymously, or get an account and write.

user:
pass:
register,


                     

well weird dictionary

a dictionary to explain the etymology and use of known words in a strange new way
 
(+3, -3)
  [vote for,
against]

I wish somebody would compile a dictionary that explains how and why a word takes on a different usage in language and a different meaning

e.g. well - noun - a hole in the ground

well - adverb - a state of health

well as in "well?" what does that mean ?

as in well hard, well weird, where the eck does that come from?

po, Sep 23 2001

Word Origins http://www.wordorigins.org/home.htm
Doesn't have 'well' but has a lot of other stuff.. [StarChaser, Sep 23 2001, last modified Oct 04 2004]

A dictionary of slang. http://www.peevish.co.uk/slang/
UK version. well, Adv. A general intensifier, very, extremely, definitely. E.g., "I'm well upset about United losing in the cup." (Doesn't give an etymology, though, but that's well 'ard.) [jutta, Sep 23 2001]

etymology search engine http://www.halfbake...y_20search_20engine
I'd settle for this. [jutta, Sep 23 2001]

Please log in.
If you're not logged in, you can see what this page looks like, but you will not be able to add anything.
Short name, e.g., Bob's Coffee
Destination URL. E.g., https://www.coffee.com/
Description (displayed with the short name and URL.)






       god, you didn't have to put up with TFI Friday in Oz did you - was no-one safe?
po, Sep 23 2001
  

       I thought po meant a dictionary with made-up etymologies, like--   

       well: from the Old Welsh llwllwl, meaning 'petroleum jelly', through New Icelandic lwool meaning 'oil pit', Olde Cockney woofl meaning 'greasy bugger' thence to English as well: a hole in the ground. Quotation: "Well, well, well." --Winston Churchill (attrib)
Dog Ed, Sep 23 2001, last modified Sep 24 2001
  

       The good Mr. Bierce specialized in definitions, not etymology. But yeah it's six of a dozen and half of another.
Dog Ed, Sep 24 2001
  

       Jutta and UnaBubba - I probably was not very lucid in my explanation. I wanted a dictionary which gave me the origins of new usages of words - as in well hard   

       I suppose it is the etymology of slang
po, Sep 26 2001
  

       Ah! Now I get it. I'd never heard that usage of "well" to mean "very", and thus understood neither your title nor most of your text.
jutta, Sep 26 2001
  

       it's me Jutta - long day at the office
po, Sep 26 2001
  

       Nigel Rees may well be a halfbaker as "A Word in your Shell Like" pretty much is this book. (It was published in 2004 so I'm not saying the dreaded B word). I love this book very much so +.
stilgar, Nov 26 2006
  


 

back: main index

business  computer  culture  fashion  food  halfbakery  home  other  product  public  science  sport  vehicle