eerie

[Joel S. Berson]

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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