h a l f b a k e r yThe word "How?" springs to mind at this point.
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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?
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]
[link]
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god, you didn't have to put up with TFI Friday in Oz did you - was no-one safe? |
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I thought po meant a dictionary with made-up etymologies, like-- |
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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 |
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The good Mr. Bierce specialized in definitions, not etymology. But yeah it's six of a dozen and half of another. |
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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 |
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I suppose it is the etymology of slang |
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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. |
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it's me Jutta - long day at the office |
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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 +. |
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