# Words that go together **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 7, 2013, 4:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-that-go-together/646317 "2013-01-07T04:51:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 7
**Author:** ![Leo\_Bloom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leo_bloom/32/10377_2.png) [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2013, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-that-go-together/646317/121 "2013-01-19T16:35:20Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > … > > And while we’re at it, “gibbous moon” (though technically, Mercury and Venus can be gibbous, too). Waxing and waning come close, but you can also be waxing poetical, and have waning influence. You can also wax Roth, as pointed out by Groucho Marx. ---
**Author:** ![Maserschmidt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maserschmidt/32/18829_2.png) [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2013, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-that-go-together/646317/122 "2013-01-19T16:38:08Z")
> [@Inner\_Stickler](#): > > It was originally used in a simpsons episode as a response to someone’s surprise at the use of the word embiggen with Mrs. Krabappel saying, “It’s a perfectly cromulent word.” My understanding is that when it is used in real liife, it is used to mean unobjectionable. Miss Hoover. Not Edna. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2013, 6:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-that-go-together/646317/123 "2013-01-20T06:11:47Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > One that just came up today: “Neap”. I don’t think I’ve _ever_ seen that word without it being followed by “tide”. > [@Irishman](#): > > That’s pretty much by definition. “Neap” doesn’t mean anything but the kind of tide. That makes me think of “nape of the neck.” Isn’t “nape” by definition the back of the neck? ---
**Author:** ![drewtwo99](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d07c76/32.png) [@drewtwo99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drewtwo99)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2013, 7:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-that-go-together/646317/124 "2013-01-20T07:21:08Z")
I think we really shouldn’t be considering words that are defined to be specific to a particular object. Neap isn’t always followed by tide, but when it’s used by itself it is an exact synonym for neap tide. It’s just the definition of the word. Similarly for nape. Nape is DEFINED to be the back of someone’s neck, so it should be no surprise it always shows up that way. In fact, saying “Nape of the neck” is redundant since nothing else even has a nape. So I agree that these aren’t fossil words at all. ---
**Author:** ![Leo\_Bloom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leo_bloom/32/10377_2.png) [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2013, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-that-go-together/646317/125 "2013-01-20T15:55:58Z")
> [@Siam\_Sam](#): > > That makes me think of “nape of the neck.” Isn’t “nape” by definition the back of the neck? Unless it’s a scruff. ---
**Author:** ![Uncle\_Stumbly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/fbc32d/32.png) [@Uncle\_Stumbly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uncle_Stumbly)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2013, 7:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-that-go-together/646317/126 "2013-01-21T07:23:16Z")
> [@drewtwo99](#): > > In fact, saying “Nape of the neck” is redundant since nothing else even has a nape. Shirt collars have napes. Some haircuts are defined by the length of their napes. The word “eke” is almost exclusively used in relation to “out a living” although rarely I’ve heard it with “out a win” in terms of a narrow victory. ---
**Author:** ![Uncle\_Stumbly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/fbc32d/32.png) [@Uncle\_Stumbly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uncle_Stumbly)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2013, 7:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-that-go-together/646317/127 "2013-01-21T07:50:40Z")
> [@Uncle\_Stumbly](#): > > The word “eke” is almost exclusively used in relation to “out a living” although rarely I’ve heard it with “out a win” in terms of a narrow victory. Just realized that this example was listed in the Wiki article… \*sigh. How about “aforethought”? Never heard that word without “malice” preceding it. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-that-go-together/646317.md?page=6)