Seemingly simple words with surprising second meanings

[dtrpath27]

Have you ever come across a very mundane word, only to find that it has a very different second meaning?  I love it when that happens!

 

essay (n.) - an attempt or an effort

arch  (adj.) - deliberately playful or teasing

 

Possibly it's related to differences between British English and American English, but I still find it interesting.

[ian]

I wonder if that's where Arch-enemy derives from?

[dtrpath27]

I wondered so I looked it up.  Apparently the arch in arch-enemy is derived from the Greek word arch meaning most important.   I just came across another one, though.  Now that I've noticed, I'm seeing them everywhere. 

 

husband (v.) - to conserve; to use resources economically

[Athena]

Is that where husbandry comes from? English isn't my first language so I'm unsure.

[dtrpath27]

Apparently, which I also did not know, around the early 13th century, husband also meant peasant farmer, so saying husbandry was like saying farmer-ry or farm management.  Huh.  Who knew?  

[Athena]

I didn't know! That's very interesting, thanks for sharing the fact .

[ian]

I think mayby that term might have been more commonly used in Britain until recently. Certainly the term "Animal Husbandry"  to mean looking after livestock is a familiar term to me.

[dtrpath27]

The term animal husbandry is often used in the United States as well.  It is the 13th century usage of the word husband to mean peasant farmer with which I was unfamiliar.

[frankie]

What a great thread!

 

I posted in the Today I Learned a New Word -thread earlier about a surprising other meaning to a well known word (the second on the list).

 

bugger:

 

1. (obsotele:) A heretic
2. (UK law) Someone who commits buggery; a sodomite. 
3. (slang, pejorative, UK, Australia, New Zealand) A foolish or worthless person or thing; a despicable person.  
4. (slang, UK, Australia, New Zealand)  A situation that causes dismay.
5. (slang, UK, Australia, New Zealand) Someone viewed with affection; a chap.
6. (slang, dated) A damn, anything at all.
7. (slang, UK) Someone who is very fond of something
8. (slang, USA - West) A rough synonym for whippersnapper.  

[ian]

 

What a great thread!

 

I posted in the Today I Learned a New Word -thread earlier about a surprising other meaning to a well known word (the second on the list).

 

bugger:

 

1. (obsotele:) A heretic
2. (UK law) Someone who commits buggery; a sodomite. 
3. (slang, pejorative, UK, Australia, New Zealand) A foolish or worthless person or thing; a despicable person.  
4. (slang, UK, Australia, New Zealand)  A situation that causes dismay.
5. (slang, UK, Australia, New Zealand) Someone viewed with affection; a chap.
6. (slang, dated) A damn, anything at all.
7. (slang, UK) Someone who is very fond of something
8. (slang, USA - West) A rough synonym for whippersnapper.  

 

 

This is a very useful word in my neck of the woods! It's generally used (as well as all of the above) as a very mild expletive that seems to be acceptable in most situations.

It would be similar in British english to sod

[frankie]

This is a very useful word in my neck of the woods! It's generally used (as well as all of the above) as a very mild expletive that seems to be acceptable in most situations.

It would be similar in British english to sod

 

Yes, you can use it in different situations for different things. It's very multidimensional

[Marie H]

 

1. (obsotele:) A heretic
2. (UK law) Someone who commits buggery; a sodomite. 
3. (slang, pejorative, UK, Australia, New Zealand) A foolish or worthless person or thing; a despicable person.  
4. (slang, UK, Australia, New Zealand)  A situation that causes dismay.
5. (slang, UK, Australia, New Zealand) Someone viewed with affection; a chap.
6. (slang, dated) A damn, anything at all.
7. (slang, UK) Someone who is very fond of something
8. (slang, USA - West) A rough synonym for whippersnapper. 

 

This is a very useful word in my neck of the woods! It's generally used (as well as all of the above) as a very mild expletive that seems to be acceptable in most situations.

It would be similar in British english to sod

Yes, you can use the word bugger in so many ways  .  As is "Oh  that" (exasperation and giving up on something), or "Where the   have I put it?!" (looking around in dismay of losing something).

Sod is a good word too, as it's acceptable in public. 

[frankie]

Yes, you can use the word bugger in so many ways  .  As is "Oh  that" (exasperation and giving up on something), or "Where the   have I put it?!" (looking around in dismay of losing something).

Sod is a good word too, as it's acceptable in public. 

 

Yep, bugger is definitely a very handy word

 

Sod is good, too, but I never remember to use it