eerie

[Jonathan Lighter]

Some years ago a number of people died in a horrible nightclub fire in Rhode
Island.

The cause was determiend to be bad wiring.

A second case has now occurred in Russia.  The cause: bad wiring.

According to Fox News Channel, the two incidents are "eerily similar."

Naturally I was waiting for the analysis of the sinister occult force that
linked the events, making them "eerily similar," but that was that.

JL
On Mon, Nov 16, 2009 at 1:06 AM, Joel S. Berson <Berson at att.net> wrote:

> ---------------------- Information from the mail header
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> Sender:       American Dialect Society <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
> Poster:       "Joel S. Berson" <Berson at ATT.NET>
> Subject:      Re: eerie
>
> -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> At 11/15/2009 05:01 PM, Jonathan Lighter wrote:
> >Allow me to suggest that the OED definition is a poor one, at least in my
> >experience. Note, too, how the at least the first three of the four cites
> >are  from Scots/ Scots English sources, the latet being 1875.
> >
> >In fact, I think def. 1 could use some work as well.
> >
> >Also, while this particular reminder might be considered "fear-inspiring,"
> >"gloomy" is a big stretch in context, and "weird" and "strange" are out.
> >
> >Cf. Merriam-Webster:
> >
> >"_Weird_, _eerie_, _uncanny_, mean mysteriously strange or
> >fantastic. _Weird_ may imply an unearthly or supernatural strangeness or
> it
> >may stress queerness or oddness <*weird* creatures from another
> >world>. _Eerie_
> >suggests an uneasy or fearful consciousness that mysterious and malign
> >powers are at work <an *eerie* calm preceded the bombing raid>.
> >_Uncanny_implies disquieting strangeness or mysteriousness <an
> >*uncanny*resemblance between total strangers>
> >."
> >
> >Christiane Amanpour's use today of "eerie" is thus either wrong or novel.
> >Take your pick.
>
> My pick is "fear-inspiring".  I agree that her use is novel (I
> wouldn't have picked "eerie" in that context), and that the other
> three characterizations don't fit.  Therefore the OED senses probably
> should be reorganized and fitting examples found.  But as Jesse
> always says about 1875, "when we come around to it".
>
>
> >JL
> >
> >
> >On Sun, Nov 15, 2009 at 3:32 PM, Joel S. Berson <Berson at att.net> wrote:
> >
> > > ---------------------- Information from the mail header
> > > -----------------------
> > > Sender:       American Dialect Society <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
> > > Poster:       "Joel S. Berson" <Berson at ATT.NET>
> > > Subject:      Re: eerie
> > >
> > >
> >
> -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
> > >
> > > How about "2. Fear-inspiring; gloomy, strange, weird"?  Although
> > > perhaps to Jon 1792 is recent.
> > >
> > > Joel
> > >
> > > At 11/15/2009 02:04 PM, Jonathan Lighter wrote:
> > > >CNN says that the thwarting of a terrorist plot against the NYC subway
> > > >system is "an eerie reminder" of the Brcelona subway attack.
> > > >
> > > >"Dramatic," "troubling," yes. But not "eerie."  Until recently.
> > > >
> > > >JL
> > > >--
> > > >"There You Go Again...Using Reason on the Planet of the Duck-Billed
> > > >Platypus"
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"There You Go Again...Using Reason on the Planet of the Duck-Billed
Platypus"

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