Assume v. Presume

[Black Hole]

We know (I assume) what 'ruthless' means, but what's 'ruth'?

 

[EEPhil]

What about

tube, gourd, mall, aunt?

My wife says aunt and ant the same way. Constant confusion!

Not toob,(don't know next word!), not maul, not ant.

 

[EEPhil]

but what's 'ruth'?

1. A book in the Hebrew Bible.
2. From http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=ruth&allowed_in_frame=0

ruth (n.) "sorrow for the misery of another; repentance, regret," c. 1200, ruthe, from Old Norse hryggð "ruth, sorrow," from hryggr "sorrowful, grieved" (v.))

 

[MikeSh]

tube, gourd, mall, aunt?

My wife says aunt and ant the same way. Constant confusion!

There are mall rats, are there mall ants? Or even mall aunts (chaperones?)

 

[EEPhil]

are there mall ants?

• Mallants Bouwmaterialen - http://www.mallants.be
• Dr Dirk Mallants - "expert on groundwater and patience" - http://www.ecosmagazine.com/?paper=EC12345

Just two of many.

 

[Deleted member 473]

Not toob,(don't know next word!), not maul, not ant.

Tyoob, gurd, maul, aren't?

 

[Trev]

So ruthless is a Hebrew bible missing a book then?

 

[EEPhil]

So ruthless is a Hebrew bible missing a book then?

That would be one interpretation - but probably only if you write Ruthless.

In the ISIHAC Uxbridge English Dictionary, I could image a definition: Ruthless - Ruth, after a month at WeightWatchers.

 

[Black Hole]

From http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=ruth&allowed_in_frame=0

Excellent. I imagine all negated words which don't seem to have a positive form in modern English will have an archaic version. One cannot properly appreciate the meaning of 'ruthless' without knowing what 'ruth' is, and I suggest the meaning has wandered a little.

 

[Trev]

Still can't see how that works with my understanding of ruthless.

 

[MikeSh]

Still can't see how that works with my understanding of ruthless.

For my understanding of 'ruthless', "no sorrow for the misery of another; no repentance, no regret," works fine. What's your understanding?

 

[MikeSh]

Just two of many.

But those are mallants, not mall ants. Different animals

 

[Deleted member 473]

As þycke as ameten crepeþ in an amete hulle

They don't write prose like that any more. (ants)

But aunt comes from Latin amita, meaning father's sister. Wot happened to the mother's sister, I ask? Is she in that aunt hill, covered thickly with aunts?

 

[EEPhil]

But those are mallants, not mall ants. Different animals

No pleasing some people.

 

[MikeSh]

No pleasing some people.

This is AvP dude. The rules are to be ruthless

 

[EEPhil]

This is AvP dude. The rules are to be ruthless

And yet you use American slang...

 

[Black Hole]

Could be said to be a dud.

 

[EEPhil]

Ruthless: The current state of the Conservative Party at Westminster - lacking a kickboxing Scottish leader.

 

[Deleted member 473]

I am feeling ruthful.

 

[MikeSh]

And yet you use American slang...

Yes. Is that grammatically incorrect? Or have I broken a rule?

I know many of you have a desire to ruthlessly cull all Americanisms from the English language, but I find some quite useful at times. However, to please you I'll rephrase it: This is AvP, bro. (A bit south London for my liking actually.)