What's the word I'm looking for?
Discussion
There's a word I learn a couple of years ago, thought it was brilliant, then promptly forgot it.
It describes words that have no degrees to them - absolute words, if you like; eg "unique" or "pregnant" - ie, you can't be a bit pregnant, or something can't be slightly unique.
What's the word, clever people of PH?
It describes words that have no degrees to them - absolute words, if you like; eg "unique" or "pregnant" - ie, you can't be a bit pregnant, or something can't be slightly unique.
What's the word, clever people of PH?
Sciroccology said:
There's a word I learn a couple of years ago, thought it was brilliant, then promptly forgot it.
It describes words that have no degrees to them - absolute words, if you like; eg "unique" or "pregnant" - ie, you can't be a bit pregnant, or something can't be slightly unique.
What's the word, clever people of PH?
No degrees of what tho'???It describes words that have no degrees to them - absolute words, if you like; eg "unique" or "pregnant" - ie, you can't be a bit pregnant, or something can't be slightly unique.
What's the word, clever people of PH?
Saskia7 said:
Sciroccology said:
There's a word I learn a couple of years ago, thought it was brilliant, then promptly forgot it.
It describes words that have no degrees to them - absolute words, if you like; eg "unique" or "pregnant" - ie, you can't be a bit pregnant, or something can't be slightly unique.
What's the word, clever people of PH?
No degrees of what tho'???It describes words that have no degrees to them - absolute words, if you like; eg "unique" or "pregnant" - ie, you can't be a bit pregnant, or something can't be slightly unique.
What's the word, clever people of PH?
They either are, or aren't IYSWIM.
I have forced open the dusty pages of my Collins Thesaurus and gone straight to the word 'unique' where it gives these synonyms:
lone
only
single
solitary
incomparable
inimitable
matchless
peerless
unequalled
unmatched
unrivalled
all of which might/do apply, are there any letters from other answers in the crossword you are already doing?????
ps the pages are all dried out and the spine gave a great cracking noise - software has a lot to answer for sometimes...
lone
only
single
solitary
incomparable
inimitable
matchless
peerless
unequalled
unmatched
unrivalled
all of which might/do apply, are there any letters from other answers in the crossword you are already doing?????
ps the pages are all dried out and the spine gave a great cracking noise - software has a lot to answer for sometimes...
Google found me this which I liked since it made me remind myself what a shibboleth is.
Dictionary.com tells it like this: " . . . unique is the paradigmatic absolute term, a shibboleth that distinguishes between those who understand that such a term cannot be modified by an adverb of degree or a comparative adverb and those who do not."
Dictionary.com tells it like this: " . . . unique is the paradigmatic absolute term, a shibboleth that distinguishes between those who understand that such a term cannot be modified by an adverb of degree or a comparative adverb and those who do not."
walm said:
Google found me this which I liked since it made me remind myself what a shibboleth is.
Dictionary.com tells it like this: " . . . unique is the paradigmatic absolute term, a shibboleth that distinguishes between those who understand that such a term cannot be modified by an adverb of degree or a comparative adverb and those who do not."
Dictionary.com tells it like this: " . . . unique is the paradigmatic absolute term, a shibboleth that distinguishes between those who understand that such a term cannot be modified by an adverb of degree or a comparative adverb and those who do not."
Shibboleth is a great word, given that it in itself is one.
Sciroccology said:
Saskia7 said:
Sciroccology said:
There's a word I learn a couple of years ago, thought it was brilliant, then promptly forgot it.
It describes words that have no degrees to them - absolute words, if you like; eg "unique" or "pregnant" - ie, you can't be a bit pregnant, or something can't be slightly unique.
What's the word, clever people of PH?
No degrees of what tho'???It describes words that have no degrees to them - absolute words, if you like; eg "unique" or "pregnant" - ie, you can't be a bit pregnant, or something can't be slightly unique.
What's the word, clever people of PH?
They either are, or aren't IYSWIM.
El stovey said:
Sciroccology said:
Justayellowbadge said:
An absolute?
No, close but no cigar. There's one word to describe these words.It's bugging me now.
The words are absolute adjectives.
Stephen Fry would know it. In fact, I think it may have been him that taught me it (via QI, not personally).
Sciroccology said:
El stovey said:
Sciroccology said:
Justayellowbadge said:
An absolute?
No, close but no cigar. There's one word to describe these words.It's bugging me now.
The words are absolute adjectives.
Stephen Fry would know it. In fact, I think it may have been him that taught me it (via QI, not personally).
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