3 ms·

Well that's.... Sad. I think I will take what little authority I (don't) have and veto that definition, seeing as it literally defeats the purpose of definition

by ysavir 9y ago

Well that's.... Sad. I think I will take what little authority I (don't) have and veto that definition, seeing as it literally defeats the purpose of definition #1. And I was invoking definition #1 there, in case that wasn't clear.

Asooka 9y ago
It's not quite as bad as you think, literally is usually used figuratively in "A is literally B" to indicate that while A is obviously not literally B, the outcome that A will have will be practically the same as that from B.
- eric_h 9y ago
  That's actually a pretty reasonable defense of what I've generally considered a cringe worthy usage of the word "literally".
coldpie 9y ago
Language changes, and as speakers of modern English, we should adapt to changes instead of tilting at that particular windmill. However, I commiserate with you over the transformation of a useful word into yet another synonym for "really".
silviogutierrez 9y ago
It's essentially a contronym now. Not unlike "egregious" [1]. [1] http://www.dictionary.com/browse/egregious http://www.dictionary.com/browse/egregious
_jal 9y ago
I'll just leave this right here. http://www.polysyllabic.com/?q=navigating/intro/prescriptive http://www.polysyllabic.com/?q=navigating/intro/prescriptive
burkaman 9y ago
"Sad" used to mean "sated". Why are you spreading the incorrect usage perpetuated by fools in the 1690s? These days nobody understands me when I use the true definition. http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?allowed_in_frame=0&search=sad http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?allowed_in_frame=0&searc...
- ysavir 9y ago
  It's one thing when a word evolves. It's another thing entirely when the evolution is the opposite of the original meaning. So let's not get condescending when it's more than a simple shift in meaning, okay?
  - burkaman 9y ago
    I guess it's a little different but it happens all the time. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Auto-antonym#Examples https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Auto-antonym#Examples Also, "sad" and "sated" aren't quite opposites but they're very different. Are you telling me you wouldn't be annoyed if people started talking about how sad they were at the end of a great meal?

by ysavir 9y ago

Asooka 9y ago

It's not quite as bad as you think, literally is usually used figuratively in "A is literally B" to indicate that while A is obviously not literally B, the outcome that A will have will be practically the same as that from B.

eric_h 9y ago
That's actually a pretty reasonable defense of what I've generally considered a cringe worthy usage of the word "literally".

coldpie 9y ago

Language changes, and as speakers of modern English, we should adapt to changes instead of tilting at that particular windmill. However, I commiserate with you over the transformation of a useful word into yet another synonym for "really".

silviogutierrez 9y ago

It's essentially a contronym now. Not unlike "egregious" [1]. [1] http://www.dictionary.com/browse/egregious http://www.dictionary.com/browse/egregious

_jal 9y ago

I'll just leave this right here. http://www.polysyllabic.com/?q=navigating/intro/prescriptive http://www.polysyllabic.com/?q=navigating/intro/prescriptive

burkaman 9y ago

"Sad" used to mean "sated". Why are you spreading the incorrect usage perpetuated by fools in the 1690s? These days nobody understands me when I use the true definition. http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?allowed_in_frame=0&search=sad http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?allowed_in_frame=0&searc...

ysavir 9y ago
It's one thing when a word evolves. It's another thing entirely when the evolution is the opposite of the original meaning. So let's not get condescending when it's more than a simple shift in meaning, okay?
- burkaman 9y ago
  I guess it's a little different but it happens all the time. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Auto-antonym#Examples https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Auto-antonym#Examples Also, "sad" and "sated" aren't quite opposites but they're very different. Are you telling me you wouldn't be annoyed if people started talking about how sad they were at the end of a great meal?