Donaldson's obscure words- A task for the forum

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Landwaster
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Post by Landwaster »

Cheers!
Do you think I like being this dangerous?
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DukkhaWaynhim
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Post by DukkhaWaynhim »

[Bump]
Whoops! Pardon me! I just bumped into this topic...sorry about that!

I remind you that Waynhim don't have eyes.

[this topic is too good to drop so low in the list ;) ]

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amanibhavam
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Post by amanibhavam »

found today: unprofligate

don't know if it's rare or not, I have never met it in other books
Webster says it's a Latinism
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love is the shadow that ripens the wine

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DukkhaWaynhim
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Post by DukkhaWaynhim »

amanibhavam wrote:found today: unprofligate
You're right about the Latin base.

Profligate can be adj.,noun, or verb and mean:
1. (adj) given to wastefulness; recklessly extravagant
2. (n) a shamelessly vicious person
3. (v) to drive away or overcome
4. (adj) overthrown, or beaten
5. (adj) immoral

So, unprofligate would be the opposite.
Where does SRD use it?

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amanibhavam
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Post by amanibhavam »

in TIW, during the March of the Warward, describing the Southron Plains
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love is the shadow that ripens the wine

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Post by Dragonlily »

He makes words starting with "un". Very useful little trick, I find myself doing it sometimes now.
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Post by kaseryn »

A lot of prefixes like that are pretty flexible really arent they.. just think how easily we use or hear the variations without much notice.. inappropiate/unappropiate.. can't think of better examples now but this happens all the time with lots of words.. dictionary often carries both versions but not always.. keeps the language evolving eh.. i love that flexibility personally.. and the mentioned license SRD took fitted so easily i didnt stop to think wether or not it was a real word. It seems to me that he demonstrates such mastery and inventiveness with the English language, at times it borders on poetry.. so he's earnt the freedom that implies. :)
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Post by kaseryn »

Oh and man.. that episode of Blackadder is 24kt classic .. he was so much better playing arrogant and sarcastic..
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Post by dANdeLION »

Crepuscular was my favorite. It was used in Illearth War once, and then a bunch of times in Wounded Land, IIRC.
Dandelion don't tell no lies
Dandelion will make you wise
Tell me if she laughs or cries
Blow away dandelion


I'm afraid there's no denying
I'm just a dandelion
a fate I don't deserve.


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Roynish
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hi again wordsmiths

Post by Roynish »

I have not visited the site for many months I am writing a Phd on the "Socio-economics of Commercial Property Markets"-yes do believe unbelievers such a topic is true in "The Land" of academia.
But I see the word list project has not been banished to a wasted and wounded land.
This is obviously a bump but it is great to see some interest in this rather analytical but essential project.

To all Donaldson devotees I give my regards.
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Roynish
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Sticky: Whats up?

Post by Roynish »

I guess the obvious question is where is the list, if it exists.

I would love to see it if it has been compiled. Unfortunately the status of a sticky post eludes this enterprise. Really quite strange how a forum based on the interpretation of literature does not acknowledge the fundamental importance of the very architecture of its existence-words. Come on moderators, this is not some stuffy exercise in linguistic multiplicities but simply an annotated list of words. Surely this deserves some recognition.
"What does that word mean?", seems to me a worthwhile exercise in our varied understandings of Donaldson's world. Perhaps a little dry at first but when everone starts contributing and the words are placed in context of Donaldson's story, it brings it to life. And not forgetting the absolute wankery of Donaldson's usage, also contributes to "The Lands" mystique.
It is different, in metaphorical and descriptive ways.
I love reading a book and not knowing what that word means. It makes you realise that hey the english language is inexhaustible. Not a bad thing I would say.

But guys, do what though will. Revere the white gold and the power you have, but use it wisely.
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