eerie

[Bill Palmer]

Oops.  I now read that the Russia fire was caused by fireworks, too.

Coincidence?  I think not.  Eerily similar, indeed.


Bill Palmer

----- Original Message -----
From: "Jonathan Lighter" <wuxxmupp2000 at GMAIL.COM>
To: <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
Sent: Saturday, December 05, 2009 8:20 AM
Subject: Re: eerie


> ---------------------- Information from the mail
> header -----------------------
> Sender:       American Dialect Society <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
> Poster:       Jonathan Lighter <wuxxmupp2000 at GMAIL.COM>
> Subject:      Re: eerie
> -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> 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
>> -----------------------
>> 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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>
>
>
> --
> "There You Go Again...Using Reason on the Planet of the Duck-Billed
> Platypus"
>
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> The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org

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