Sunday, December 11, 2005

Indubitable pith?

Perhaps Esperanto is the way forward. What would you say if someone said you were "indubitably a most redoubtable person"? I think I would smile falteringly and hope it was a compliment.

"dubious": to be in doubt, or in two minds about something

"indubitable": too apparent to be doubted

"redoubtable": arousing fear or awe, evoking respect or honour

It reminds me of once being complimented on my "pithy" comments. I was deeply offended, thinking that pith was the "dense white stuff" around an orange... surely implying that pity comments were those which were 'bulky' and 'discardable' in conversation? To my relief (and embarassment), it turns out 'pithy' means forcefully meaningful, brief and accurate. But beware of "pithed" or "pithing", which can mean killing by severing the spinal cord!

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