4 ms·

"Electrocute" is a portmanteau of "electricity" and "execute".

machello13 7y ago
Sure, but in practice it's used to mean just being electrically shocked. Words aren't tied to the meaning implied by their etymology.
- revax 7y ago
  In French we have two words, "électrisation" for non-lethal shock and "électrocution" for when death occurs.
  - ad404b8a372f2b9 7y ago
    Most people I know still use "éléctrocuté" to describe what happens to them when they get shocked from an electrical outlet.
- OJFord 7y ago
  I do not find that to be the case in practice, I occasionally here it used like that, but consider it misuse. I suspect a dictionary might accept it as an 'informal' alternative to the main 'death by' definition.
  - joshuacc 7y ago
    No need to speculate on what a dictionary might say. We can actually consult one. https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/electrocute https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/electrocute
    - OJFord 7y ago
      Thank you - it did feel a little silly to type, but I didn't care to search online, nor to get up. Laziness subsided, my Collins (complete, 2016) - which is a rather accepting dictionary of new-fangled words or usages - has only two definitions, both involving death. (1. to kill as a result of electric shock; 2. (US) to execute in an electric chair).
r00fus 7y ago
TIL. What other commonly understood words are portmanteaus?
- OJFord 7y ago
  Taxicab (taximeter/cabriolet), brunch (breakfast/lunch), spork (spoon/fork), Eurasia (Europe/Asia), Brexit (Britain/exit).
- georgebaily 7y ago
  Portmanteau
- kbutler 7y ago
  You'll see them all over now. chortle (chuckle/snort) podcast (ipod/broadcast) newscast (news/broadcast) sportscaster (sports/broadcaster) motel (motor/hotel) email (electronic/mail) blog (web/log) bit (binary/digit) chunnel (channel/tunnel) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_portmanteaus https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_portmanteaus
- hnick 7y ago
  Smog is a big one most people don't think about (smoke/fog).
emmp 7y ago
The etymology of a word is a useful signal but it should not be mistaken to be the definition in actual usage by speakers.
aeternum 7y ago
If we're going purely by etymology, what does a suitcase have to do with electricity?

Sure, but in practice it's used to mean just being electrically shocked. Words aren't tied to the meaning implied by their etymology.

revax 7y ago
In French we have two words, "électrisation" for non-lethal shock and "électrocution" for when death occurs.
- ad404b8a372f2b9 7y ago
  Most people I know still use "éléctrocuté" to describe what happens to them when they get shocked from an electrical outlet.
OJFord 7y ago
I do not find that to be the case in practice, I occasionally here it used like that, but consider it misuse. I suspect a dictionary might accept it as an 'informal' alternative to the main 'death by' definition.
- joshuacc 7y ago
  No need to speculate on what a dictionary might say. We can actually consult one. https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/electrocute https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/electrocute
  - OJFord 7y ago
    Thank you - it did feel a little silly to type, but I didn't care to search online, nor to get up. Laziness subsided, my Collins (complete, 2016) - which is a rather accepting dictionary of new-fangled words or usages - has only two definitions, both involving death. (1. to kill as a result of electric shock; 2. (US) to execute in an electric chair).

r00fus 7y ago

TIL. What other commonly understood words are portmanteaus?

OJFord 7y ago
Taxicab (taximeter/cabriolet), brunch (breakfast/lunch), spork (spoon/fork), Eurasia (Europe/Asia), Brexit (Britain/exit).
georgebaily 7y ago
Portmanteau
kbutler 7y ago
You'll see them all over now. chortle (chuckle/snort) podcast (ipod/broadcast) newscast (news/broadcast) sportscaster (sports/broadcaster) motel (motor/hotel) email (electronic/mail) blog (web/log) bit (binary/digit) chunnel (channel/tunnel) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_portmanteaus https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_portmanteaus
hnick 7y ago
Smog is a big one most people don't think about (smoke/fog).

emmp 7y ago

The etymology of a word is a useful signal but it should not be mistaken to be the definition in actual usage by speakers.

aeternum 7y ago

If we're going purely by etymology, what does a suitcase have to do with electricity?