A.W.A.D. - Verbs
It's said that in the English language every noun can be verbed, but there's nothing more grating on the ears than the gratuitous "verbification" of nouns in a modern workplace exchange.
From "productizing an idea" to "administrating the plan" and "incentivizing the workers" these verb-forms are about as graceful as a sumo wrestler performing a ballet. Don't get me wrong -- there's nothing sinful about coining new words, or using existing ones in creative ways, but these Latinate constructions just don't work. There are already countless words that can do the job very well.
This week we'll look at five verbs in the English language.
suspire
(suh-SPYR) verb tr., intr.
To breathe; to sigh
[From Latin suspirare (to breathe up), from spirare (to breathe).]
indurate
(IN-doo-rayt, -dyoo-) verb tr.
1. To make hardy, inured, accustomed
2. To make callous or unfeeling
verb intr.
1. To make hard
2. To become established
adjective (IN-doo-rit, -dyoo-)
Hardened; callous; obstinate
[From Latin indurare (to harden), from durare (to last), from durus (hard). Ultimately from the Indo-European root deru-/dreu- (to be firm) that's the source of such other words as truth, trust, betroth, tree, endure, and druid.]
yammer
(YAM-uhr) verb tr., intr.
To whine, complain, or to talk loudly and incessantly
noun
The act of yammering
[From Middle Dutch jammeren (to lament).]
extirpate
(EK-stuhr-payt) verb tr.
1. To destroy completely
2. To pull up by the roots
[From Latin extirpare (to root out), from stirps (stem, root).]
From "productizing an idea" to "administrating the plan" and "incentivizing the workers" these verb-forms are about as graceful as a sumo wrestler performing a ballet. Don't get me wrong -- there's nothing sinful about coining new words, or using existing ones in creative ways, but these Latinate constructions just don't work. There are already countless words that can do the job very well.
This week we'll look at five verbs in the English language.
suspire
(suh-SPYR) verb tr., intr.
To breathe; to sigh
[From Latin suspirare (to breathe up), from spirare (to breathe).]
indurate
(IN-doo-rayt, -dyoo-) verb tr.
1. To make hardy, inured, accustomed
2. To make callous or unfeeling
verb intr.
1. To make hard
2. To become established
adjective (IN-doo-rit, -dyoo-)
Hardened; callous; obstinate
[From Latin indurare (to harden), from durare (to last), from durus (hard). Ultimately from the Indo-European root deru-/dreu- (to be firm) that's the source of such other words as truth, trust, betroth, tree, endure, and druid.]
yammer
(YAM-uhr) verb tr., intr.
To whine, complain, or to talk loudly and incessantly
noun
The act of yammering
[From Middle Dutch jammeren (to lament).]
extirpate
(EK-stuhr-payt) verb tr.
1. To destroy completely
2. To pull up by the roots
[From Latin extirpare (to root out), from stirps (stem, root).]
spall
(spal) verb tr., intr.
To break into small pieces; to splinter.
noun
A chip or splinter, especially of stone.
[Of unknown origin.]
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