My Brain Is Not Shutting Up Tonight
Since I no longer have a regular job, I guess it doesn't matter that I'm up at 12:27am posting about something as ridiculous as what you are about to read, or what you are about to very quickly click away from.
Okay, first, I myself used this word wrong for years, so I am not in any way criticizing anyone for ever having used this word incorrectly. Most people do. And I did until I was about 15 years old and read a book about a bunch of misused words (and I wish I still had that damn book).
The word on my mind is "apropos." It's French for something (I don't know French which is unfortunate because I love the way it sounds), but it does not, in our language, mean "appropriate."
It means "pertinent to" or "regarding."
I can't think of an example (because I really don't use it very often) so I'll borrow from my dictionary: "... apropros of the preceding statement" is one, and another is "apropros remarks." Now, that second example might lead one to believe it's identical to "appropriate," but it's not; the second example simply means "remarks that are relevant (to whatever the dictionary is thinking about -- it refused to expound), and that's different from appropriate.
Don't you feel smart? And if you already knew all this, don't you feel ... REALLY smart?
I love words. I really do. I'm sorry if this was boring. I'll put a "GSW" (Grammary, Syntax, and Words) rating on all future posts that are this boring.
posted by MC @ 12:26 AM
15 Comments:
MC your posts are never boring. Hell I would read your grocery list if you were to post it. No kidding.
I wish you still had that book too, I'd like to borrow it. On second thought that is probably how you lost it.
You're too kind. Seriously. I'm glad 'Zilla introduced us.
If you'd like to read my grocery list and then act upon it by purchasing my groceries, I can accommodate you. That's just something I'd do for you because it's the holidays and all.
hahahahah. Only if you would accompany me to the grocery pit of hell...
I'm glad Zilla introduced us too.
I think "apropos" is an excellent example of adding a little flavor to your use of the English language.
I'm not buying your statement that it does NOT mean "appropriate".
The American Heritage Dictionary agrees with me.
http://education.yahoo.com/reference/dictionary/entry/apropos
Even your link does NOT represent "appropriate."
Close, but not cigar. Even that dictionary's synonyms list the following: "relevant, pertinent, germane, material, apposite, apropos" (though why "apropos is listed as a synonym for "apropros" is beyond me).
It just doesn't mean the same thing as "appropriate" - it is not even really classified as a synonym. The words are related through heritage, but that's it. They're close in meaning, but not identical.
Buy it or don't buy it, but "apropros" just doesn't substitute for "appropriate."
Gosh I'm feisty about this.
Plus, the American Heritage dictionary is one of the worst, but that's just my opinion. I think the WC and Oxford are best.
Also, we can always ask this guy: http://thelanguageguy.blogspot.com/.
He's the bomb when it comes to language.
Well, the posts I've read anyway.
Also I apologize if that sounded offensive. My opinions of dictionaries are mine and mine alone, and I realize I may very well have terrible taste in dictionaries.
http://www.wordreference.com/fren/propos
Thanks for this thought. I love language too. I studied french, but I can't remember enough to matter, so I looked it up. I would say the translation would be "of the subject" as you suggested.
Well Segue, the only dictionary my friend whom is most obsessive and pedantic as I found any sort of reference to "appropriate" was a Funk and Wagnall's dictionary published about 16 years ago.
So, if you choose to use that as your authority, run with it.
In the meantime, almost everyone I've checked with and every dictionary I've checked with all say the same: pertinent to or regarding.
Language evolves, and eventually I can imagine that "apropros" simply will be another word for appropriate because many people insist upon using it that way.
Until that time, I will have to disagree with you.
Gosh, it's so late, I argued with Segue twice.
Sorry.
I'm cleaning obsessively tonight which will be explained in another post. My brain is a bit addled, and that is NOT to be confused with altered.
Rain, thank you for the additional insight.
You must all think I'm crazy.
Well, I am. When it comes to words, I'm an absolute nut case.
When it comes to a few other things I am also a nut case, but words are enough craziness for me tonight.
Nighty night.
Apropos of nothing, I like french apple pie-flavored yogurt.
Hey, you ever coming back?
Maybe - but it's so much more enjoyable to read others' blogs.
I plan to have some coherent thoughts starting in May. Maybe I could share them.
Are you having coherent thoughts yet? -- of course, you are. Planning to share soon?
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