I Don't Think That Word Means What You Think It Means
I don't know how it came up, but last night I was talking to one of our interviewers and used the word 'lugubrious'. One of the other interviewers overheard us and asked, "What does that mean?" I thought for a second before answering (always a good move, I've learned) and said, "You know, I think I know what it means, but I'm not certain. Let me look it up and make sure."
Good thing, too. I thought it meant 'fearsome and/or repulsive'. Wrong. According to Merriam-Webster Online, it actually means:
1 : MOURNFUL; especially : exaggeratedly or affectedly mournful
2 : DISMAL
I think I first heard this word as part of the Disney Hercules animated feature. I misinterpreted the meaning based strictly on the context in which it was used. That trick almost always works, but it's best to check, I suppose.
By the way, Derek, is this a word you can use in your dissertation?
Good thing, too. I thought it meant 'fearsome and/or repulsive'. Wrong. According to Merriam-Webster Online, it actually means:
1 : MOURNFUL; especially : exaggeratedly or affectedly mournful
2 : DISMAL
I think I first heard this word as part of the Disney Hercules animated feature. I misinterpreted the meaning based strictly on the context in which it was used. That trick almost always works, but it's best to check, I suppose.
By the way, Derek, is this a word you can use in your dissertation?
posted by Michael at
9:47 AM
2 Comments:
I'm taking this as something of a challenge. You can expect lugubrious to appear somewhere in the great tome! If you're lucky, I'll work in a footnote indicating your involvement. You'll be immortalized forever!
By
dilliwag, At
September 14, 2004 2:36 PM
Oh, stop already. You're going to make me blush. :-)
Wow, a possible footnote in Derek's dissertation ... I don't think I've ever been quoted in a scholarly work before. Cool!
By
Michael, At
September 14, 2004 10:09 PM
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