# Vocabulary **URL:** \ **Category:** Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports\ **Created:** [September 7, 2007, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vocabulary/418358 "2007-09-07T14:54:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Cecil\_Adams](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ad7895/32.png) [@Cecil\_Adams](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cecil_Adams)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2007, 1:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vocabulary/418358/21 "2007-09-09T13:19:57Z")
[QUOTE=BillBC] What would bug scientists know about the matter? I’d think you’d made a mistake, except that you are omniscient, so I suppose you must be testing us. [/QUOTE] No, I’m not. I hope you appreciate the maturity it takes for me to say this. In my younger days I’d have said **NO YOU PATHETIC FRICKING BIRDBRAIN** , thereby blowing the opportunity for a teaching moment. Now, in contrast, I calmly note that I said entomologist because I _meant_ entomologist. _Harper’s_ ran the “fact” about Americans’ shrinking vocabulary twice, in 1990 and again in 2000. The second time around, the citation appeared in an endnotes section where Cornell entomologist Cole Gilbert was also mentioned in support of a fact about the luminescence of fireflies. A few months later, the _Vancouver Sun_ passed along the vocabulary factoid but mistakenly named Gilbert as its source, thereby adding the entomologist to the mythical statistic’s already muddy provenance. I didn’t have room to explain this in detail, but come on - the construction “or even entomologists” ought to have conveyed the gist to anyone even slightly alert. Little Ed, the fiend, thinks we should go back to the old system of signaling jokes with gongs, electric shocks to the nasty bits, etc. Don’t make me say yes. ---
**Author:** ![China\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/779978/32.png) [@China\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/China_Guy)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2007, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vocabulary/418358/22 "2007-09-09T13:43:39Z")
[QUOTE=mangeorge] Suppose I’m ambivalent (itself not very apt) about something. I don’t care one way or the other. I can’t find a casual word to express that indifference. “I don’t like opera” implies dislike, which isn’t true. [/QUOTE] There’s a great word in Chinese that might be what you want for indifferent - it’s suibian. It can mean contextually “whatever”, “okay”, “I don’t mind”, “you decide”, etc. In the context of “do you want to watch Rambo or Rocky?” and you reply with an “indifferent, but I’m good with either one you like.” To the Perfect Master: Ha, now we know you check in on “comments.” BTW, IMHO, I prefer subtlety in the joke department. But if you want gongs, come to a big city like Shanghai. ---
**Author:** ![DSYoungEsq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c6cbf5/32.png) [@DSYoungEsq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSYoungEsq)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2007, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vocabulary/418358/23 "2007-09-09T14:02:30Z")
[QUOTE=Cecil Adams] Today, 09:19 AM #21 Cecil Adams … _Last edited by Cecil Adams : Today at 09:33 AM._ [/QUOTE] Is anyone else interested in the fact that Uncle Cecil has the ability to edit MORE than 5 minutes after the post? For that matter, what is the Perfect Master doing having to edit anything he writes at all??? :eek: And isn’t it Little Ed’s job to do that anyway?? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2007, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vocabulary/418358/24 "2007-09-09T15:07:46Z")
_Gongs!!!_ We had gongs? I will gladly sacrifice :o for gongs. mangeorge ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2007, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vocabulary/418358/25 "2007-09-09T17:40:09Z")
> [@](#): > > Is anyone else interested in the fact that Uncle Cecil has the ability to edit MORE than 5 minutes after the post? Nominally, a Perfect Master has all the same powers and abilities on the board as an Administrator (and hence, the full suite of moderatorial powers as well), including the ability to edit anyone’s post at any time. I think, though, that this is the first time he’s actually done so, rather than delegating the task to some lackey, as he usually does. ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2007, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vocabulary/418358/26 "2007-09-09T20:36:32Z")
[QUOTE=mangeorge] I can’t find a casual word to express that indifference. [/QUOTE] I believe the word you’re looking for is _meh_. ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2007, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vocabulary/418358/27 "2007-09-09T23:21:57Z")
[QUOTE=friedo] I believe the word you’re looking for is _meh_. [/QUOTE] It seems I replied to the email notification instead of this post! Silly me. :o Anyway, I didn’t know that was a real word that I can actually use. m-w didn’t have it. [dictionary.com](http://dictionary.com) didn’t have it. [wikipedia.com](http://wikipedia.com) didn’t have it. But [google.com](http://google.com) found it at [unwords.com](http://unwords.com); > [@](#): > > Definition of meh :. > > (m?') > > 1. (n.) A multi-purpose response, primarily used to imply a degree of indifference. Tone of voice and circumstance often implies a meaning. Can be used when you don’t want to answer an awkward or embarrassing question, or if you just plain have nothing else to say, and you want the other person to interpret the “meh” however he/she chooses. As in: Q: “What do you think of my new dress?” A: “Meh.” or Q: “What do you want to do tonight?” A: “Meh.” > > Submitted by: Anonymous, Topics: Miscellaneous So it’s well on it’s way to popular acceptance. That’s a good thing. BP; What’s the term for a word that enters the language through common usage? Hey! the definition uses our other “unword” word, he/she. Thanks, **friedo** mangeorge ---
**Author:** ![foolsguinea](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foolsguinea/32/14751_2.png) [@foolsguinea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/foolsguinea)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2007, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vocabulary/418358/28 "2007-09-10T00:18:31Z")
[QUOTE=mangeorge] BP; What’s the term for a word that enters the language through common usage? [/QUOTE] Normal? ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2007, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vocabulary/418358/29 "2007-09-10T00:37:24Z")
[QUOTE=foolsguinea] Normal? [/QUOTE] Nooo! Gimme a day or two. It’ll come. It’s _not_ axiom. Nor is it colloquialism. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2007, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vocabulary/418358/30 "2007-09-10T01:33:54Z")
Is there any other way for a word to enter the language? ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2007, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vocabulary/418358/31 "2007-09-10T01:42:38Z")
[QUOTE=Chronos] Is there any other way for a word to enter the language? [/QUOTE] Divine intervention? I’m asking about a once unacceptable word like “ain’t”. Remember “Ain’t ain’t in the dictionary”? Like that. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![John\_W.Kennedy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_w.kennedy/32/1031_2.png) [@John\_W.Kennedy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_W.Kennedy)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2007, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vocabulary/418358/32 "2007-09-10T16:44:27Z")
It partly depends on what you mean by “enter a language”. If you mean it one way, then a word can _only_ enter a language through popular use, by definition. If you mean it another way, a word can simply enter by fiat, as “gas” and “hobbit” did. ---
**Author:** ![SiXSwordS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/49beb7/32.png) [@SiXSwordS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SiXSwordS)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2007, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vocabulary/418358/33 "2007-09-10T20:02:27Z")
[QUOTE=mangeorge] What’s the term for a word that enters the language through common usage? [/QUOTE] Idiom, sir? ---
**Author:** ![tnetennba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7993a0/32.png) [@tnetennba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tnetennba)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2007, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vocabulary/418358/34 "2007-09-10T20:16:37Z")
“Word”? ---
**Author:** ![bbs2k](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e495f1/32.png) [@bbs2k](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bbs2k)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2007, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vocabulary/418358/35 "2007-09-10T20:47:14Z")
Brain = assplode. ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2007, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vocabulary/418358/36 "2007-09-10T21:30:19Z")
[QUOTE=SiXSwordS] Idiom, sir? [/QUOTE] That’s the word I was seeking, although some would argue. ---
**Author:** ![tnetennba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7993a0/32.png) [@tnetennba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tnetennba)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2007, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vocabulary/418358/37 "2007-09-11T01:06:56Z")
Some would argue, perhaps, because they look up the meaning of “idiom.” ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2007, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vocabulary/418358/38 "2007-09-11T02:32:07Z")
[QUOTE=cricetus] Some would argue, perhaps, because they look up the meaning of “idiom.” [/QUOTE] I had done that, back a ways. I was looking for the wrong word, you see. And found it. My funny, eh? 😛 ---
**Author:** ![RiverRunner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/977dab/32.png) [@RiverRunner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RiverRunner)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2007, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vocabulary/418358/39 "2007-09-11T13:49:47Z")
[QUOTE=SiXSwordS] Idiom, sir? [/QUOTE] Some people can sneak a Monty Python reference into _anything_. And the world is a better place for it, I say. RR ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_Robson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gary_robson/32/3448_2.png) [@Gary\_Robson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_Robson)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2007, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vocabulary/418358/40 "2007-09-11T16:16:23Z")
[QUOTE=mangeorge] I can’t find a casual word to express that indifference. “I don’t like opera” implies dislike, which isn’t true. Same for sports. It’s there is all. It keeps people off the streets, I guess. A single word between “love” and Hate" would be nice. [/QUOTE] I, too, would like to see such a word. [QUOTE=Indistinguishable] What’s wrong with the word “indifferent”? . [/QUOTE] “I indifferent opera.” Nope. And “am indifferent to” doesn’t count. **Mangeorge** was looking for a word, not a phrase, otherwise “don’t care about” would have covered it. [QUOTE=friedo] I believe the word you’re looking for is _meh_. [/QUOTE] “I meh opera.” Nice ring, but it still isn’t right. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vocabulary/418358.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vocabulary/418358.md?page=3)