Men....Nyuk Nyuk

Kathy Garza (cgarza@texoma.net)
Tue, 28 Oct 1997 20:47:41 -0600 (CST)


>> Infamous?  In=not right?  So why are we talking about someone who isn't a
>> famous hater of men?  Was she also a dweller of the alternative life style?
>> Wasn't she also a movie star or something?
>
>While the "in-" prefix often means "not," this is not an inviolable
>rule.
>
>The word "infamous" means to be very famous in a negative context, to
>have an evil reputation.
>
>Hitler was infamous for his persecution of Jews, Gypsies, and Jehovah
>Witnesses.  The infamous Gloria Steinem is attacked for her views on
>women's rights and pornography.
>
>For those who may not know, Steinem is for the ERA, and she's
>vehemently against pornography and other forms of sexual exploitation.
>Steinem is co-founder of the feminist Ms Magazine, and she is a
>supporter for "reproductive rights" i.e.  abortion.  The infamous quote
>that you might have heard about removing a fetus is just like removing
>a parasitic or cancerous growth comes from Steinem.  She has never been
>an actress, but got her degree in Government and has worked as
>journalist, editor, activist and writer her entire adult life.
>
>A similar word is "inflammable":  Gasoline is inflammable.  Elemental
>sodium is inflammable.  These substances are extremely, even
>explosively, combustible even in normal environmental conditions.
>
>An interesting note in my Random House Webster's College Dictionary here
>regarding "inflammable":
>
>  INFLAMMABLE and FLAMMABLE both mean "combustible."  INFLAMMABLE is
>  older by about 200 years.  FLAMMABLE now has certain technical uses,
>  particlarly as a warning on vehicles carrying combustible materials,
>  because of a belief that some might interpret the intexsive prefix
>  IN- of INFLAMMABLE as a negative prefix and thus think the word means
>  "noncombustible."
>
>These inconsistencies often make the English language incomprehensible
>to non-native speakers.  The indefatigable (untiring) study of this
>language should be considered invaluable (of great worth).
>
>Richard "is higher-fire inflammable" Masoner
>Champaign Illinois USA
>


I just asked......whimper...
Sister Kathy Garza ***Being and Doing Hands on for the Nail Pierced Ones***