eerie

[Paul]

paul johnson

And isn't that eerie!

Bill Palmer wrote:
> 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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>>> > >
>>> > > ------------------------------------------------------------
>>> > > The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org
>>> > >
>>> >
>>> >
>>> >
>>> >--
>>> >"There You Go Again...Using Reason on the Planet of the Duck-Billed
>>> >Platypus"
>>> >
>>> >------------------------------------------------------------
>>> >The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org
>>>
>>> ------------------------------------------------------------
>>> The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org
>>>
>>
>>
>>
>> --
>> "There You Go Again...Using Reason on the Planet of the Duck-Billed
>> Platypus"
>>
>> ------------------------------------------------------------
>> The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------
> The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org
>

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