Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Language/2016 June 22

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June 22

Adjective "organ"

Is there an adjective "organ" that is related to the verb "organize" and the noun "organization" like other "-ize"/"-ization" words? GeoffreyT2000 (talk) 05:09, 22 June 2016 (UTC)

Not according to Merriam-Webster, one of the more comprehensive and well regarded dictionaries of American English (somewhat analogous to the OED for British English). Under Merriam-Webster, only three noun definitions are commonly recognized. Since the full online OED requires paid membership, I'll let someone who has one look it up there. --Jayron32 05:16, 22 June 2016 (UTC)

No adjective "organ" in the OED Online either.

The usual adjective corresponding to "organization" would be "organizational", although "organic" has some limited uses also, such as in the phrase organic law. --69.159.9.187 (talk) 07:18, 22 June 2016 (UTC)

What part of speech is 'organ' in contexts like Organ concerto and Organ Symphony? -- Jack of Oz ^{[pleasantries]} 12:57, 22 June 2016 (UTC)

Our article is at Noun adjunct, Jack, though terminology like "attributive noun" is also used. Deor (talk) 14:10, 22 June 2016 (UTC)

Ah yes. Thanks, Deor. -- Jack of Oz ^{[pleasantries]} 22:58, 22 June 2016 (UTC)

What of Organ Morgan, of Under Milk Wood fame. Noun phrase or adjectival use of organ? --Tagishsimon (talk) 11:20, 23 June 2016 (UTC)

Computer Language Dictionary & Thesaurus sought

Something that provides alternative words of whatever I insert in the software/app. -- Apostle (talk) 11:19, 22 June 2016 (UTC)

You're going to need to supply more details than this. What software? What app? What is your program written in? How detailed do the definitions need to be? Is there a reason why you can't Google it yourself? And so on. Matt Deres (talk) 16:10, 22 June 2016 (UTC)

• User:Russell.mo, is accessing google illegal where you live? μηδείς (talk) 01:16, 23 June 2016 (UTC)

Yes Medis, you won't understand. I'll still tell you: It takes a lot of kbs if I go through all the links. - I'm on pay bite as you go. -- Apostle (talk) 10:49, 23 June 2016 (UTC)

And yet you can load and reload the RefDesk to ask dozens of questions without using up those bytes? A curious system. As an aside, I'd suggest an ad-blocker such as NoScript to reduce the size of loaded pages by halting the loading of animated advertisements and so on. Matt Deres (talk) 13:48, 23 June 2016 (UTC)

Medeis, is it acceptable to be rude and churlish for no reason where you live? You are free to ignore these questions if you don't like them. You're not helping, you're just getting in our way. The funny thing is you could be helpful if you wanted to, I know you could. SemanticMantis (talk) 18:29, 24 June 2016 (UTC)

My internet is for study purposes only, and this is the only place I learn via communication, that's why I use my bytes here first, and I got use to it... I get 1GB pay bite as you go every month, therefore "WP" and "Adult Videos" are the only two things I could possibly use my internet for...still I do some rubbish to have fun, sometimes with you guys... I'm guessing you won't understand until I lie my way out here, or create more than a dozen account in order to camouflage myself. Beside, you are more than welcome to give others an opportunity to assist me (who like doing the internet searches) rather than creating an issue about it in order to make me look bad with your comments...

Anyway, I'll add you with Medis. -- Apostle (talk) 03:56, 24 June 2016 (UTC)

I never studied Greek, but I know enough to know that the user's name is User:Medeis and not as written above. 80.44.160.251 (talk) 10:36, 24 June 2016 (UTC)

-- Apostle (talk) 19:19, 24 June 2016 (UTC)

I know a bit of Greek, but I also don't bother spelling user names correctly when said user has been rude and unhelpful to me. SemanticMantis (talk) 18:29, 24 June 2016 (UTC)

Are you just looking for any thesaurus application? Our article lists a few free/open ones. Wiktionary works as a thesaurus, and there are many freely available apps for smartphones too [1]. SemanticMantis (talk) 18:29, 24 June 2016 (UTC)

"Dictionary" and a "Thesaurus" (separate and or included). I want talk like a Computer... -- Apostle (talk) 19:17, 24 June 2016 (UTC)

So you don't want a general thesaurus (a think that tells you that "creek" is another word you can use instead of "stream")? You want way to take normal language and make it sound like a computer program? I am a little confused too. I don't know of anything like that, but you may enjoy a vocoder, that will make your voice sound like a computer. If you can make an example of input and output, I might be able to help further. Feel free to ping me though because I won't keep checking back on this. SemanticMantis (talk) 22:27, 24 June 2016 (UTC)

SemanticMantis: E.g.: When I type "Yes" in the app, I want it to display "Affirmative" (and other possible computer language used in Robots) with its meaning, and if possible a "thesaurus" too. I want to pretend I'm a "Robot". -- Apostle (talk) 04:45, 25 June 2016 (UTC)

User:Russell.mo Oh, ok, I get it now. For the record, this response here I think would have been a good way to start. I don't know of any apps like that but you might like to read up a bit on "robo speak" [2] [3]. SemanticMantis (talk) 18:06, 25 June 2016 (UTC)

Software sought. -- Apostle (talk) 18:23, 25 June 2016 (UTC)

fabric

I am not so sure about the meaning of "fabric" in the following context: "More often we see only the interweaving darkened lines that lazy hoofs have traced on the silken fabric of the dew." Thank you. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 114.249.215.130 (talk) 13:53, 22 June 2016 (UTC)

It is a metaphor; the author is comparing bedewed ground/meadow/pathway to a "silken fabric". --LarryMac | Talk 14:06, 22 June 2016 (UTC)

He could be thinking of the way dew clings to spiders' webs in the grass. Wymspen (talk) 15:31, 22 June 2016 (UTC)

Bear of little brain

ESL Question: In the article on the Kim dynasty it is stated on Kim Jong-Un that he “… reportedly bore a daughter, Kim Ju-ae, in 2012”. The Wiktionary article gives the definition of the verb bear at 7 as “(transitive) To give birth to someone or something (may take the father of the direct object as an indirect object)”. Is it acceptable in (US or UK) English to use this construct, i.e. “X (the father) bore a daughter / son” ? Of course, Kim Jong-Un may have many superhuman characteristics which invalidate general linguistic usage and semantics. Thank you. --Cookatoo.ergo.ZooM (talk) 18:43, 22 June 2016 (UTC)

No, it is not correct in normal usage. You could say he "fathered" a daughter, or more poetically - which might be relevant for myth-making dynasties - he "sired" her. Carbon Caryatid (talk) 18:55, 22 June 2016 (UTC)

Maybe something got lost in translation. You could say that Kim begat a child. ←Baseball Bugs ^{What's up, Doc?} carrots→ 19:16, 22 June 2016 (UTC)

Hmm... "begat" is a rather archaic in my opinion, rather King James Bible. I'd go with "fathered". Alansplodge (talk) 22:18, 22 June 2016 (UTC)

I've never seen bear/bore used in connection directly with the father. It always refers to the mother, who 'carries' the baby with the result that she gives birth to it. The Wiktionary article (sense 7) says, "(may take the father of the direct object as an indirect object)", which is somewhat misleading but is illustrated in the example quoted: "In Troy she becomes Paris’ wife, bearing him several children ..." Akld guy (talk) 22:48, 22 June 2016 (UTC)

• "Was delivered of a son/daughter" is the only proper corresponding term. To sire or father refers to the conception, or to the act in the very abstract, not to when the mother delivers. μηδείς (talk) 01:13, 23 June 2016 (UTC)

Maybe he bored a daughter. On the other hand, if his father could shoot 34 (in golf, not with a firearm), anything is possible. Clarityfiend (talk) 06:15, 23 June 2016 (UTC)

Provided you make it clear that it is the mother who was delivered (hence "delivery room"). The medical term is "parturition". 80.44.160.251 (talk) 13:33, 23 June 2016 (UTC)

That is inherently clear, I believe, given the well-documented significant differences between women and men. -- Jack of Oz ^{[pleasantries]} 20:22, 23 June 2016 (UTC)