Comments for OUPblog

Comment on Science and Religion in American Politics by ‘This is not about you’: Altruism and the Presidency : OUPblog

‘This is not about you’: Altruism and the Presidency : OUPblog — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 07:33:19 +0000

[…] from Thomas Dixon’s previous very popular post for OUPblog, he has very kindly agreed to write another article for us. Here he reflects on the […]

Comment on Bimonthly Gleanings (July - August 2008) by JMD

JMD — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 06:14:05 +0000

You note that “artifact” is “from arte, the ablative singular of ars ‘art’ and fictum, the neuter past participle of facere ‘make, do.’” However, “fictum” is not the past participle of facere - the principle parts of facere are “facio, facere, feci, factum.” “Fictum” is the neuter perfect passive participle of “fingo, fingere, finxi, fictum,” to shape, mould, arrange, devise. The participle in particular can mean feigned or false. See Cassell’s Latin Dictionary. As the meanings of the verbs are similar, I am not sure which one you meant, though I suspect you meant to say factum.

Comment on Bimonthly Gleanings (July - August 2008) by Nathan Carlson

Nathan Carlson — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 18:19:36 +0000

As to dwarfs vs. dwarves: Tolkien wrote that he preferred the -ves ending for his little people exactly because of the OE influence. Wolf ~ wolves was right to him, thus dwarf ~ dwarves. The -fs ending so favored by Disney rankled Tolkien (had anyone ever asked him).

Comment on Bimonthly Gleanings (July - August 2008) by John Cowan

John Cowan — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 16:57:45 +0000

I will add that the plural of dwarf ‘human being of short stature’ is everywhere dwarfs. Additionally, though I realize that opponent may mean simply ‘a person who maintains a contrary position’ (OED 1b), your use of the word carks me, for we are on the same side, that of truth.

Comment on Bimonthly Gleanings (July - August 2008) by Kiwi Carlisle

Kiwi Carlisle — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 16:14:05 +0000

I’m a Missourian as well. I’ve grown up with “Bossy” used as such a generic cow name that “Bossy” is practically a synonym for cow. My Dad, who grew up in Texas, even used to call cows “bossies”. Admittedly, his father was a classically-trained minister, which might skew the sample just a tad.

Comment on What the Deuce, Or, Etymological Devilry by Kristina

Kristina — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 12:45:21 +0000

Devil=duality=separate (diabolein)

Comment on Does the Race Issue Hurt Obama? by Emily

Emily — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 06:32:52 +0000

The American Prospect said that, “the ad never mentions Obama’s race as the source of his celebrity, but it doesn’t have to—it’s been part of the campaign long enough for the point to be implicit. In short, this ad is Geraldine Ferraro’s attack done ‘right,’ in the sense that it does not directly implicate the McCain campaign as exploiting racial tensions.”

Comment on Kettle – Podictionary Word of the Day by Rudy Giuliani on Obama: “Me thinks the man protests too much.” « Earl says …

Wed, 27 Aug 2008 02:41:46 +0000

[…] they make no effort to maintain themselves. This phrase is actually “Johnsonian”, as in Samuel Johnson and not […]

Comment on From Manhood in America to Guyland by joshua backer

joshua backer — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 18:29:49 +0000

Hey Becca, good find! A good friend who was a woman studies major and I used to argue about this stuff all the time…I’m hoping its going to be an entertaining read.

Comment on Medical & Health Blogs: A Special Hippocratic Oath for Medblogs? by Morning Brief — Tuesday, August 26 « The Book Publicity Blog

Morning Brief — Tuesday, August 26 « The Book Publicity Blog — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 14:32:53 +0000

[…] from Oxford University Press discusses the different types of medical / health blogs. Her breakdown will be helpful for those who work on these types of […]