western australia

classical music

More musings on unusual words

@JudyEv (325809)

Rockingham, Australia

January 29, 2023 6:18pm CST

The photo has nothing to do with the discussion, except that it’s music-related. It’s our younger son blowing his trumpet, so to speak, except that it’s a B flat tuba. We were listening to classical music on the radio last night and Vince remarked that it wasn’t very harmonious. They got us thinking about the opposite: inharmonious or unharmonious perhaps. Then we agreed that discordant might be a better choice which led me to wonder if cordant was a word in its own right. But it seems the opposite of discordant is concordant but there is no ‘cordant’. So, my mind then wandered to wondering whether congestant was a word as decongestant is quite common. I couldn’t come up with a definition for congestant, just congestion or congestive. It’s strange where the mind wanders off to as you’re heading for sleep. Have a great day everyone. It’s going to reach 36C today which is getting up there.

24 people like this

18 responses

@DWDavis (25812)

• Pikeville, North Carolina

30 Jan 23

One of our recent vocabulary lessons was about the words that appeared to have prefixes but actually don't. It is fun to play around with such words.

7 people like this

@TheHorse (205770)

• Walnut Creek, California

30 Jan 23

Examples accepted. But not excepted.

6 people like this

@JudyEv (325809)

• Rockingham, Australia

30 Jan 23

There has been a couple of discussions here about those sorts of words. Always interesting.

4 people like this

@xFiacre (12597)

• Ireland

30 Jan 23

@JudyEv Callithumpian might be the word you’re looking for as an opposite to harmonious.

5 people like this

@TheHorse (205770)

• Walnut Creek, California

30 Jan 23

Are you kidding me? And why is the opposite of the top of a guitar...its back? Why I have given up on language in preference of/for math.

3 people like this

@JudyEv (325809)

• Rockingham, Australia

30 Jan 23

I used to call myself a Callithumpian meaning I didn't have a particular religion but I've just learnt that's not its meaning at all.

3 people like this

@shaggin (71666)

• United States

30 Jan 23

The English language is such an odd thing the rules done seem to make sense very often

3 people like this

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@shaggin (71666)

• United States

30 Jan 23

@JudyEv I believe you have made posts about many of these

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (325809)

• Rockingham, Australia

30 Jan 23

That's very true. And there are so many funny sayings and idioms.

3 people like this

@JudyEv (325809)

• Rockingham, Australia

31 Jan 23

@shaggin Yes, I do believe I have!

1 person likes this

@rebelann (111178)

• El Paso, Texas

30 Jan 23

Oh if only it were at least 34c here, I'm so tired of the icy cold mornings when I have to bundle up to take Roscoe out so he can relieve himself.

4 people like this

@JudyEv (325809)

• Rockingham, Australia

30 Jan 23

That would be a real downside to owning a dog when the winters are so cold.

3 people like this

@rebelann (111178)

• El Paso, Texas

30 Jan 23

I can't imagine living in those areas that get those blizzards and heavy snow fall, I'm happy to say that the last time we got snow it was only 1/2 inch which melted before 10am.

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (325809)

• Rockingham, Australia

31 Jan 23

@rebelann That sounds like the best sort of snow.

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@wolfgirl569 (95188)

• Marion, Ohio

30 Jan 23

You have more interesting wanders than I usually do. It's just what I didn't get done or need to do most times

4 people like this

@JudyEv (325809)

• Rockingham, Australia

30 Jan 23

I had a very restless night. I probably spent too much time pondering on such issues.

3 people like this

@JamesHxstatic (29242)

• Eugene, Oregon

30 Jan 23

Those word puzzles that occur are fascinating. We may have reached 36F on this sunny, windy day, but it will drop to about 20 tonight.

3 people like this

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@JamesHxstatic (29242)

• Eugene, Oregon

30 Jan 23

@JudyEv It will be a welcome relief, no doubt.

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (325809)

• Rockingham, Australia

31 Jan 23

@JamesHxstatic We are swapping houses so the couple coming here will notice the difference too. It could still be quite hot.

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (325809)

• Rockingham, Australia

30 Jan 23

We are going to Ireland late March and we'll experience much colder weather there. I guess we'll survive.

3 people like this

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@allknowing (130064)

• India

31 Jan 23

There is no rule when it comes to why some words can have prefixes/suffixes and some don't - some with dis and some with un. I was just thinking of unable and disable - different meanings. That is English for you

1 person likes this

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@allknowing (130064)

• India

31 Jan 23

@JudyEv It is difficult because there is no logic. It is a matter of just getting practice - reading, writing and listening to those who speak good English. I have had all that.

@JudyEv (325809)

• Rockingham, Australia

31 Jan 23

No wonder they say English is a difficult language to learn.

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@RebeccasFarm (86754)

• United States

30 Jan 23

A most precious photo Judy

Yes there is a site named Discord which is a lot of people who are a bit off tune so to speak.

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@RebeccasFarm (86754)

• United States

31 Jan 23

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@JudyEv (325809)

• Rockingham, Australia

31 Jan 23

I didn't know about that site. I'm a bit off tune from time to time.

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@jstory07 (134465)

• Roseburg, Oregon

30 Jan 23

It is 28 degree here. Very cold.

2 people like this

@JudyEv (325809)

• Rockingham, Australia

30 Jan 23

I've been reading about how cold it is there. It will be much cooler when we go to Ireland in April.

1 person likes this

@LadyDuck (458179)

• Switzerland

30 Jan 23

Your son has all intentions to play that tuba.

I never heard the word congestant, I do not believe it exists. My husband is famous to invent words, usually a mix of French, English and Italian.

1 person likes this

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@LadyDuck (458179)

• Switzerland

30 Jan 23

@JudyEv He makes us laugh, but what it is more surprising is that, most of the time, our French friend understands the meaning of the invented word.

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (325809)

• Rockingham, Australia

30 Jan 23

@LadyDuck So the made-up words must have some sort of logic to them. lol

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@JudyEv (325809)

• Rockingham, Australia

30 Jan 23

Oh dear. I bet he comes out with some very weird words.

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@moffittjc (118442)

• Gainesville, Florida

30 Jan 23

You definitely got your mind churning thinking about all those words! You should write a book about all that! The other day I was thinking about the word refrigerator. Why is the “re” in front of it. Is there a frigerator, and if so, why are we refrigerating the frigerator?

1 person likes this

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@moffittjc (118442)

• Gainesville, Florida

31 Jan 23

@JudyEv I thought of another one last night when I was trying to drift off to sleep, but couldn’t remember what it was I was thinking about when I woke up this morning.

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (325809)

• Rockingham, Australia

1 Feb 23

@moffittjc Isn't that just so annoying?

If I'm sitting here and an idea comes for a discussion I jot it down straight away; otherwise it's gone forever.

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (325809)

• Rockingham, Australia

31 Jan 23

There are all sorts of anomalies, isn't there? I don't think I'll buy into the fridge bit. It might boggle my tiny mind.

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Lenore Plassman

@sallypup (57888)

• Centralia, Washington

30 Jan 23

Totally adorable photo.

3 people like this

@JudyEv (325809)

• Rockingham, Australia

30 Jan 23

He could actually get a note out of the tuba. lol

3 people like this

Valerie J. Routhieaux

@just4him (306236)

• Green Bay, Wisconsin

30 Jan 23

That's quite warm, whereas 36 F is quite cold. Love the picture. Yes, it is interesting where the mind travels when you're ready for sleep.

1 person likes this

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Valerie J. Routhieaux

@just4him (306236)

• Green Bay, Wisconsin

31 Jan 23

@JudyEv I hope it does.

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (325809)

• Rockingham, Australia

31 Jan 23

I haven't slept well the last few nights but no doubt it will get better.

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Anindita Sengupta

@aninditasen (15742)

• Raurkela, India

30 Jan 23

A lovely contrast of words.

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (325809)

• Rockingham, Australia

31 Jan 23

English is a strange language sometimes.

1 person likes this

Anindita Sengupta

@aninditasen (15742)

• Raurkela, India

31 Jan 23

@JudyEv Yes, English is a strange language and everyone agrees to it.

1 person likes this

@GardenGerty (157551)

• United States

30 Jan 23

I hope your wandering mind did not take you too far.

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (325809)

• Rockingham, Australia

31 Jan 23

Eventually I went to sleep. I've had a couple of restless nights lately.

@rsa101 (37952)

• Philippines

31 Jan 23

You seem to love to pay with words that are not usually used in English. I find it interesting to learn words that are not frequently used. This one is another one of those words that are rarely used or encountered.

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (325809)

• Rockingham, Australia

1 Feb 23

I find it interesting too even if I never use them again.

1 person likes this

@snowy22315 (169966)

• United States

30 Jan 23

Like disgruntled is very common, but gruntled, although a word, doesn't get much usage.

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@JudyEv (325809)

• Rockingham, Australia

31 Jan 23

Same with couth and uncouth. You don't here the first too often.

1 person likes this

@LindaOHio (156163)

• United States

30 Jan 23

The English language is full of interesting words. I am amazed that anyone can learn it.

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@JudyEv (325809)

• Rockingham, Australia

31 Jan 23

No wonder it takes a long time for someone to become proficient in it.

1 person likes this