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[-] Binette@lemmy.ml 47 points 5 months ago

It's not really that I interpret it in another way, but I never really thought about the structure of the word 😅

[-] db2@lemmy.world 18 points 5 months ago

Go further. For example, people say 'gypped' without knowing it's a pejorative reference to the word 'Gypsy' which is itself a pejorative of the Romani.

[-] j4k3@lemmy.world 14 points 5 months ago

My favorite recently is sophist from the pejorative Platonic definition. It really puts words like sophisticated in a different etymological light and subtle contextual meaning.

[-] Caboose12000@lemmy.world 5 points 5 months ago
[-] j4k3@lemmy.world 4 points 5 months ago

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sophist_(dialogue)

Fake but convincing by argument, gaslighting, etc., generally by someone in a position like a professor, a judge, or a politician.

[-] Welt@lazysoci.al 0 points 5 months ago

And the Egyptians, too!

[-] alquicksilver@lemmy.world 0 points 5 months ago

I remember learning this about 20ish years ago and telling my then-sister in law about it when I explained why I wasn't going to use it anymore. I got told I had a stick up my ass, and this was by a marginalized (gay, immigrant) woman. (Somewhat unrelated note - very grateful she's a former relation.)

So glad people have been learning and I've been hearing "gypped" less and less in recent years.

[-] ricdeh@lemmy.world 1 points 5 months ago* (last edited 5 months ago)

Some words have simply entered common use and become decoupled from their former meaning. Maybe your acquaintance was right.

[-] alquicksilver@lemmy.world 1 points 5 months ago

Watching my own language means my "acquaintance" was right? I don't think I'm the one with a stick, if that's the case.

[-] Welt@lazysoci.al 0 points 5 months ago

Seems like Orwell was right

[-] Zeppo@sh.itjust.works 12 points 5 months ago

I’ve had similar realizations about words like “across” and “again”.

[-] SorteKanin@feddit.dk 7 points 5 months ago

I get "across", but what about again?

[-] Trex202@lemmy.world 5 points 5 months ago

A gain. In addition to.

[-] Zeppo@sh.itjust.works 4 points 5 months ago

“A gain” as in one more. Gain meaning “an increase in amount”

[-] Albbi@lemmy.ca 3 points 5 months ago

Yeah, actually I had never thought about the structure of the word either. Thanks for the great shower thought!

[-] _sideffect@lemmy.world 2 points 5 months ago
[-] flerp@lemm.ee 2 points 5 months ago

I've definitely had a similar feeling with band names and brand names, etc. You're just so used to hearing them that they are their own thing without being the component words that the name contains.

this post was submitted on 15 Jun 2024
342 points (87.7% liked)

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