4 ms·

Wait, what? As a non-native speaker of English, I've always assumed that "grep" is a normal English verb.

• pg 16y ago
  That's very funny. It's actually starting to be now.
  • mhd 16y ago
    In certain circles. Probably the same that would also recognize "grok".
    • judofyr 16y ago
      You're telling me that "grok" isn't a normal English verb either? What a sad day :-(
      • ars 16y ago
        It was coined in the book Stranger in a Strange Land by Robert A. Heinlein.
      • ColinDabritz 16y ago
        https://secure.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/wiki/Grok https://secure.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/wiki/Grok Grok is a term from Robert A. Heinlein's book "Stranger in a strange land." I can see why finding out that these amazing words are not 'official' English could make you sad, but for me I find it amazing and encouraging, as this is exactly the way that some language is formed! They are so full of future potential. I look forward to seeing what terms 'make it' into major dictionaries in the future.
        • sesqu 16y ago
          http://ars.userfriendly.org/cartoons/?id=20100124 http://ars.userfriendly.org/cartoons/?id=20100124
        • Groxx 16y ago
          lol (edit: oh come on, you know it'll end up in there eventually!)
      • mhd 16y ago
        Considering the rather eclectic nature of the English vocabulary, is there such a thing as a "normal" verb? Grok is exactly the same level as brobdingnagian, i.e. perfectly cromulent.
        • sabat 16y ago
          The use of Grok in English is embiggening.
          • mhd 16y ago
            There may be some truthiness in that.
          • cag_ii 16y ago
            ...it's a perfectly cromulent word.
            • cromulent 16y ago
              Agreed.
        • pjscott 16y ago
          According to the Oxford English Dictionary, both grep and grok are English verbs. I'm happy about this, since the OED is about as official as you can get.
          • jackowayed 16y ago
            How does the OED define grep?
            • gmac 16y ago
              grep, n. Computing. A Unix command used to search files for the occurrence of a string of characters that matches a specified sequence or pattern, and to output all the lines matching this. Also grep command. grep, v. Computing. 1. intr. To search for a string of characters using the grep command. Also trans.: to search (a file) in this way. 2. trans. slang (usu. humorous). Of a person: to search; to scan visually. Both marked: DRAFT ENTRY June 2010
      • danh 16y ago
        That just goes to show that normal English is highly unusual.
      • btilly 16y ago
        Interestingly grok was originally a noun! It means "water". People look at me funny when I point that out.
        • jf 16y ago
          For shame! It makes perfect sense if you've read "Stranger in a Strange Land"
  • judofyr 16y ago
    I've always connected it with "grip" (and the Norwegian translation: "gripe"). /usr/bin/grep runs through STDIN and "grips" the matching lines, while everything else flows through and disappear. That totally made sense in my head… EDIT: In December 2003, the Oxford English Dictionary Online added draft entries for "grep" as both a noun and a verb. — http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grep#Usage_as_a_conversational_verb http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grep#Usage_as_a_conversational_...
    • ElbertF 16y ago
      I made similar connection, in Dutch the word "grijp" (which sounds a bit like "grep") means "grab". I figured "grep" is to "grab" stuff from a file.
• jawngee 16y ago
  I always thought it was some clever twist on "grope".