blowzy

[Geoffrey Steven Nathan]

I discussed this with my wife, Margaret Winters, who actually (occasionally) uses the word, normally with reference to a woman
Without telling her the context, I asked her what she meant by it. Her answer: 'slightly sloppy, unkempt, perhaps a little overweight'. Given the context this now makes perfect sense as a way for a presidential speech NOT to be at this time in our history.

Her suggestion for 'timeless' was, as someone suggested earlier, something like 'bland generalities, for the ages', as opposed to something addressing current problems.

FWIW

Geoff

Geoffrey S. Nathan
Faculty Liaison, C&IT
and Professor, Linguistics Program
http://blogs.wayne.edu/proftech/
+1 (313) 577-1259 (C&IT)


----- Original Message -----

> From: "Jonathan Lighter" <wuxxmupp2000 at GMAIL.COM>
> To: ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU
> Sent: Sunday, January 20, 2013 9:13:48 AM
> Subject: blowzy

> ---------------------- Information from the mail header
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> Sender: American Dialect Society <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
> Poster: Jonathan Lighter <wuxxmupp2000 at GMAIL.COM>
> Subject: blowzy
> -------------------------------------------------------------------------------

> A bald-pated academic with rimless glasses and a measured, Ivy League
> manner tells Candy Crowley that he hopes Obama's Inaugural speech
> "won't be
> blowzy, out there, and timeless."

> I know it's early, but what the hell is he talking about?

> JL

> --
> "If the truth is half as bad as I think it is, you can't handle the
> truth."

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