Wordplay (1 Viewer)

[eighsse2]

Post any fun/trivial/interesting language-related things here. Tried some search queries to see if there was a general wordplay thread. Couldn't find anything.

Here's just a weird little thing I noticed. This may or may not be interesting to anyone else.

There are two rhyming, one-syllable adjectives, that I would call synonyms vaguely, and antonyms specifically. I'd say they both could be vaguely defined as "alone" or "taken by itself, considering nothing else", but in one case implying insufficiency, due to being alone, and in the other case implying sufficiency, despite being alone.

Can anyone figure out what words I'm talking about?

 

[ChiefD]

Wut?

 

[rockaction]

Wow. Not off of the top of my head. One syllable?

 

[TheBaylorKid]

How many letters does each word have?

 

[eighsse2]

It didn't really need to be put into the form of a puzzle, I could have just said the words.

But, one is 4 letters and the other is 5 letters. And they rhyme with beer.

 

[Riffraff]

in one case implying insufficiency, due to being alone, and in the other case implying sufficiency,

If it had been 1 word, I would have went with ripe - both insufficient (foul) and also sufficient (mature). Can be used singular (alone) but also plural depending upon what it's noun is.

 

[eighsse2]

in one case implying insufficiency, due to being alone, and in the other case implying sufficiency,

If it had been 1 word, I would have went with ripe - both insufficient (foul) and also sufficient (mature). Can be used singular (alone) but also plural depending upon what it's noun is.

When I said "alone" I meant that "alone" is a [very vague] definition of each word. Not a description of the word or its usage.

 

[eighsse2]

I'm probably taking some liberties in my own mind to make the whole thing make more sense than it really does. But I still think it's an interesting pair of words.

"A claw hammer alone was was not enough to break down the door. But the power alone of the sledge hammer was sufficient."

"A _ _ _ _ claw hammer was not enough to break down the door, but the _ _ _ _ _ power of the sledge hammer was sufficient."

 

[scoobus]

Mere, sheer?

 

[eighsse2]

Mere, sheer?

Yep!

So it's like "mere" carries a connotation of "it was only that thing, not anything else, not a big deal." And "sheer" has a connotation of "it was pure, unadulterated that thing, nothing else was needed because it was so impactful." But they both mean "that thing, and nothing else." I think?

 

[scoobus]

Mere, sheer?

Yep!

So it's like "mere" carries a connotation of "it was only that thing, not anything else, not a big deal." And "sheer" has a connotation of "it was pure, unadulterated that thing, nothing else was needed because it was so impactful." But they both mean "that thing, and nothing else." I think?

Pretty sure no one in the history of ever would've gotten that without your additional clues haha.

 

[scoobus]

In the spirit of keeping the thread going, what word has 8 consonants and only 1 vowel?

 

[eighsse2]

In the spirit of keeping the thread going, what word has 8 consonants and only 1 vowel?

Strengths?

 

[eighsse2]

Mere, sheer?

Yep!

So it's like "mere" carries a connotation of "it was only that thing, not anything else, not a big deal." And "sheer" has a connotation of "it was pure, unadulterated that thing, nothing else was needed because it was so impactful." But they both mean "that thing, and nothing else." I think?

Pretty sure no one in the history of ever would've gotten that without your additional clues haha.

Yeah I really didn't expect anyone to be able to get it straightaway. But sometimes that's the fun of it. Like a mystery to ponder on for a little bit before being given additional info.

 

[scoobus]

In the spirit of keeping the thread going, what word has 8 consonants and only 1 vowel?

Strengths?

Correct!

 

[nirad3]

What word's pronunciation changes by capitalizing the first letter?

 

[eighsse2]

What word's pronunciation changes by capitalizing the first letter?

Polish.

 

[SWC]

so this weasel walks into a bar and the barkeep says hey weasel what will it be and pop goes the weasel take that to the bank brohans

 

[Gally]

so this weasel walks into a bar and the barkeep says hey weasel what will it be and pop goes the weasel take that to the bank brohans

the weasel must be from the midwest other wise it would be soda goes the weasel.

 

[eighsse2]

so this weasel walks into a bar and the barkeep says hey weasel what will it be and pop goes the weasel take that to the bank brohans

the weasel must be from the midwest other wise it would be soda goes the weasel.

Or coke goes the weasel in some of the South.

 

[SWC]

so when i was younger i was addicted to brake fluid but i told myself it was ok because i could stop at any time take that to the bank bromigos

 

[Snoopy]

What word is spelled incorrectly in the dictionary?

 

[Nugget]

What is the longest word in the English language that can be spelled out using only the top row of a common American typewriter?

 

[kupcho1]

What word is spelled incorrectly in the dictionary?

incorrectly