tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2629301231907528990.post5842565269794892536..comments2024-03-26T18:01:57.609+00:00Comments on Inky Fool: InklingM.H. Forsythhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01464964455944509750noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2629301231907528990.post-80229092775082806752010-06-02T12:55:33.320+01:002010-06-02T12:55:33.320+01:00Heh. Is that my day or your day? At the moment, h...Heh. Is that my day or your day? At the moment, here, that would be about 41% of the time. À Londres, it's about 66.67%, which is better, but still not 100%. <br /><br />And who could be trusted at a Finnish Christmas? They have some hard liquor up there. <br /><br />Where does that phrase come from - hard liquor? It is not unlike being hit with something hard, but presumably it's not that simple?The Antipodeannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2629301231907528990.post-78797483293896861782010-06-01T18:23:44.852+01:002010-06-01T18:23:44.852+01:00Antipodean, I am as honest as the day is long and ...Antipodean, I am as honest as the day is long and should never be trusted at a Finnish Christmas.M.H. Forsythhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01464964455944509750noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2629301231907528990.post-78031571447773700292010-06-01T05:11:54.181+01:002010-06-01T05:11:54.181+01:00Fran, you seem to be making the understandable, bu...Fran, you seem to be making the understandable, but possibly dangerous, assumption that Dogberry is to be trusted. This is the internet, after all.<br /><br /><b>The</b> Inklings of Oxford would perhaps have been using the 'person' suffix - person of Ink? Inky person? No doubt with the assorted riff on alternate meanings, clever chaps that they were. Possibly not whispering, though, that not usually being possible in pubs. <br /><br />Sideling is a word that really should be reinstated, and I am going to suggest to my brother that he uses it in place of wingman. He could then say 'I will just discuss whether or not you are fangast with my sideling' in relative safety, albeit at the risk of scaring off whoever he is talking to. Hmm; perhaps not an ideal outcome.The Antipodeannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2629301231907528990.post-76079057992726949202010-05-31T16:32:47.171+01:002010-05-31T16:32:47.171+01:001. Quite right.
2. Rather complicated. The thing i...1. Quite right.<br />2. Rather complicated. The thing is that the ling suffix can work in a few different ways. It can be a diminutive. It can just mean a person as in hireling (person hired) or earthling (person from earth). Some people say that Darling was formed like this (a dear person). There's even a relation to long, as in headlong. Darkling appears to use it as an adverbial ending and then gave us the adjective ('She left me darkling' or 'darkling thrush'), which has a slight difference of meaning from dark as it means "in the dark".<br />There is no word darkle. Or at least there is but it was formed (like sidle) from a misunderstanding.<br />If that isn't at all clear, then I'm afraid the facts aren't either.<br /><br />The OED has a word darklong, with this example "Darkelong without al pompe and ceremonies, buryed in a dunghil"M.H. Forsythhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01464964455944509750noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2629301231907528990.post-6407152215545848182010-05-31T16:10:23.976+01:002010-05-31T16:10:23.976+01:00Two things. 1. You are missing an "and" ...Two things. 1. You are missing an "and" in "lexicographers a giddy public," or I have misunderstood. 2. How does "darkling" fit into all this?<br /><br />Christhechildershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16522630649200476001noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2629301231907528990.post-24449029987736805432010-05-31T15:39:03.610+01:002010-05-31T15:39:03.610+01:00"a usage as perverse as the desire that it ex..."a usage as perverse as the desire that it expresses"<br /><br />Ha!Joel Stickleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14270604410152020281noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2629301231907528990.post-49797393312671288692010-05-31T15:34:15.713+01:002010-05-31T15:34:15.713+01:00I don't know. Johnson, Southey, Blackmore, Ha...I don't know. Johnson, Southey, Blackmore, Hardy ... and I thought they could all be trusted. I am dismayed. At least, I have an inkle that I am.Fran Hillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07935088780461825341noreply@blogger.com