Words, Words, Words

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I think of myself as being good with words and definitions  — and was slightly horrified when I discovered that two words I have used plenty of times over the years, I have used incorrectly.  I love it when I come across a word I don’t know and I have to look up the meaning — but this was a different experience.  To find out that two common words mean the opposite of what I had thought — well, it was a humbling experience.  One of the words was moot — which I have used to mean a point that’s not really debatable.  It turns out the meaning is something which is open to discussion and is in fact, quite arguable.  The other word is enervate — which I thought meant to energize someone or something — and in truth it means to deprive of energy.  Two words. Hoping they aren’t just the tip of the iceberg.

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/moot?s=t

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/enervate?s=t

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2 Responses

  1. Karl says:

    Mary –
    Very interesting. Same way I use those 2 words – and often.
    But here’s the REAL question – have you (or anyone) EVER heard those 2 words used correctly, according to your definition? I haven’t.

    • Mary Kunkel/Lightly Tethered Admin says:

      I have to tell you that I have, though I’m sort of sad to admit it. Moot, my husband uses correctly — and my friend Chris is the one who clued me in to the word enervate. Other than those two, no — I’m totally with you. Most people, it seems to me, use them incorrectly.

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