Unanswered Questions
329 questions with no upvoted or accepted answers
5
votes
0
answers
238
views
What is a Google Tree? (used in a book from 1898)
The phrase Google Tree appears in St. Nicholas: An Illustrated Magazine for Young Folks from 1898 (starting on p. 35, or p. 49 of the pdf file):
Both madly loved the Lily Maid,
And better to decoy
...
- 7,412
3
votes
1
answer
3k
views
What is the difference between span and period in the context of time?
span the period of time that sometimes exists or happens
period a length of time
That said, I still don't see the difference. I have the following exercise in my schoolbook:
The course would have ...
CommunityBot
- 1
3
votes
0
answers
40k
views
Is "cause" instead of "because" becoming Standard English?
Nowadays, I'm seeing a drastic increase in usage of cause in place of because, especially in written English. People are in such a hurry, that a statement like below passes off like Standard English:
...
- 400
2
votes
0
answers
254
views
What is the meaning of "pent"
Under the arching heavens of the afternoon swift passing, and the
voices of children and women,
The many-moving sea-tides, and I saw the ships how they sail’d,
And the summer approaching ...
- 89.6k
2
votes
0
answers
142
views
The meaning of the word nonce in a specific context
I came across this word in a biography of the Beatles and I can't grasp its meaning, so I would be grateful to anybody who could try to explain it to me. I looked up various definitions in a ...
- 2,387
2
votes
0
answers
100
views
Semantic implications of "The President and we are disbanding the Forum"
In a widely publicized statement, a group of CEO's on President Trump's "Strategic and Policy Forum" wrote that because of contention surrounding recent statements by the president:
As such, the ...
- 22.7k
2
votes
0
answers
478
views
Meaning of gosh all, git-up in this context
In the song Jeepers creepers by Louis Armstrong, there is a line that goes like this:
Oh, gosh all, git up, how'd they get so lit up?
It refers to the eyes of a person. My question is: what does "...
- 29
2
votes
0
answers
731
views
established in or over
In the following passage from Meredith's Diana of the Crossways, Sir Lukin, who tried to seduce the heroine and who has to keep that episode in secret from his wife, is remorseful.
Reflection ...
- 172k
2
votes
0
answers
616
views
"that was a classic money handshake"
I'm reading the play "Dumb Show" by Joe Penhall. (See on Google Books)
Almost at the beginning of the play one of the characters uses this phrase: classic money handshake. What does it mean?
(Barry ...
- 3,264
2
votes
0
answers
217
views
Connotation of a sentence in a listening material from TPO
(Here for the original audio source (MP3 file). The part in question begins approximately at 2'18'')
This conversation is an excerpt from one listening material in a TPO (TOEFL Practice Online) test, ...
- 1,030
2
votes
0
answers
433
views
Is it possible to 'claim' a concession?
Underlying most OED definitions of the word claim, both noun and verb, is some notion of right or entitlement.
( An exception arises in the case of meaning 2c - the loosely used he claimed to be ...
- 64.9k
2
votes
0
answers
254
views
1610 Meaning of 'occasion'
Source: Journals of the House of Lords (1610)
That whereas the House of Commons have already, among their Grievances, preferred a Petition to His Majesty, as of Right and Justice, That the Four ...
CommunityBot
- 1
2
votes
1
answer
110
views
what is the meaning of 'ruinously'?
What meaning does 'ruinously' convey in the given sentence:
"A city so ruinously sad that it had forgotten its name."
Does it mean that, it was so badly sad that it had forgotten its name or that it ...
CommunityBot
- 1
2
votes
1
answer
5k
views
Endebted v. indebted: is there a difference in meaning?
I was recently told by a senior academic that I ought to replace the word indebted with endebted in an essay during which I suggest one text alludes to another.
I have searched the web (no help) and ...
- 37.7k
1
vote
1
answer
322
views
Meaning of the term "empty use" in the context of modal verbs
I'm reading a book titled Comprehensive High School English Grammar & Composition. The author, who is Indian, says this on the use of the modal verbs can and could:
Can is used to express "...
- 97.8k