"Neurotic, adj. sense 4, 1907, antedates 1917--

[Jonathan Lighter]

2 and 4 seem to me to say virtually the same thing.
But because 3 is applied to persons, the meaning is different.

Cf.:

1. a neurotic symptom ('caused by neurosis')
2. a neurotic person ('afflicted with one or more neuroses')

JL



On Sun, Mar 6, 2011 at 3:55 PM, Victor Steinbok <aardvark66 at gmail.com>wrote:

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> Sender:       American Dialect Society <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
> Poster:       Victor Steinbok <aardvark66 at GMAIL.COM>
> Subject:      Re: "Neurotic, adj. sense 4, 1907, antedates 1917--
>
> -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> I'm somewhat confused by some of the distinctions between neurotic 2.
> ("Of the nature of neurosis"), neurotic 3. ("Of a person: suffering from
> or affected by a neurosis") and neurotic 4. ("Symptomatic of or
> associated with a neurosis; characteristic of a neurotic").
>
> How does one classify "neurotic ancestry" (p. 480, 567) or "neurotic
> family history" (p. 548) or "neurotic parentage" (p. 555)?
> http://goo.gl/cGcBq
>
> I would expect the latter two to be 3. (or 2.??), but not sure about
> "ancestry"?
>
> And if they do fall under 3. rather than 2., then should "neurotic
> inheritance" ("hereditary descent" of "a truly nervous character") as well?
> http://goo.gl/Hmsgm
>
> On the other hand, shouldn't "neurotic predisposition" fall under
> "symptomatic of neurosis"?
>
> I am hopelessly confused...
>
>     VS-)
>
> On 3/5/2011 11:04 AM, Joel S. Berson wrote:
> > The Bystander [London], Vol. 13, No. 165, January 30, 1907, page 217:
> >
> > "Harry Thaw on Trial / New York's Neurotic Interest in the
> > Millionaire Prisoner"  [article title]
> >
> > "Neurotic" adj. sense 4,  "... characteristic of a neurotic. Also in
> > extended use", antedates OED3 Dec. 2009,1917--.
> >
> > [Serendipitous encounter, while test-driving "test-drive".]
> >
> > Joel
>
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