5 ms·

literal god?

by tradertef 4y ago

literal god?

joshstrange 4y ago
> literal supply chain god I mean this is what he was known for (and still known for) before he took took the CEO role.
- epgui 4y ago
  The issue is the incorrect usage of the word "literal".
  - nopzor 4y ago
    the word has literally been redefined :-/
    - zimpenfish 4y ago
      No, it hasn't, it's pretty much always been used for both (see https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=32271400 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=32271400 which contains references to the figurative use as far back as 1769.)
  - dieselgate 4y ago
    so many people were misusing the word “literally” the Merriam-Webster dictionary definition expanded to include the “figurative exaggerated” usage of it. So I understand but it’s “technically” correct
    - zimpenfish 4y ago
      From the link in https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=32271400 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=32271400, there's references as far back as 1769 where people were "misusing" the word "literally". It has basically never just meant "literal".
  - wfme 4y ago
    This comment is _literally_ the epitome of hn.
  - skellera 4y ago
    Oddly enough, literal in that context is emphasizing the point instead of… the literal meaning.
  - solveit 4y ago
    Turns out exaggeration works by stating things that aren't strictly true. Who would've thought people could be so devious...
  - akmarinov 4y ago
    But what if he is though? Can’t prove that he isn’t, you just have to have faith.
  - veilrap 4y ago
    "Literally" has always been used figuratively. https://blogs.illinois.edu/view/25/96439 https://blogs.illinois.edu/view/25/96439
  - googlryas 4y ago
    Literally literally means both literally and figuratively.
    - eyelidlessness 4y ago
      I’m awed by how many permutations of this comment are possible and how few of those permutations could be considered incorrect.
  - epgui 4y ago
    Okay, okay, I figuratively stand corrected, no need to further downvote! Mea culpa haha. :)
nl 4y ago
According to the Oxford dictionary "literal"now means: Taking words in their usual or most basic sense without metaphor or exaggeration. but also: [informal] Absolute (used to emphasize that a strong expression is deliberately chosen to convey one's feelings) That second, informal meaning is correctly being used here. https://www.lexico.com/definition/literally https://www.lexico.com/definition/literally
- ahahahahah 4y ago
  Sure, if by "Now" you mean since at least 250 years ago. > 1769 F. Brooke Hist. Emily Montague IV. ccxvii. 83 He is a fortunate man to be introduced to such a party of fine women at his arrival; it is literally to feed among the lilies. A better phrasing that correctly uses "now" would be: The OED now recognizes that "literally" can be used to mean "figuratively".
  - mistersquid 4y ago
    > > 1769 F. Brooke Hist. Emily Montague IV. ccxvii. 83 He is a fortunate man to be introduced to such a party of fine women at his arrival; it is literally to feed among the lilies. > A better phrasing that correctly uses "now" would be: The OED now recognizes that "literally" can be used to mean "figuratively". I wouldn’t be so sure about that. “Lilies” may figuratively refer to “women” as a group of persons named “Lily”. If so, attending a party filled with “lilies” would mean to literally (literally) feed among them, presuming snacks and refreshments were served at said party.
    - nl 4y ago
      Good try. Fortunately we can check the text[1] and there are no characters named "Lily". However, there is a prior reference to lilies as a thing of beauty: > Our beaux are terribly at a loss for similies: you have lilies of the valley for comparisons; we nothing but what with the idea of whiteness gives that of coldness too. and it seems likely the author was referring to that theme. Additionally this isn't the only quote from a similar timeframe: http://itre.cis.upenn.edu/~myl/languagelog/archives/002611.html http://itre.cis.upenn.edu/~myl/languagelog/archives/002611.h... https://www.macquariedictionary.com.au/blog/article/94/ https://www.macquariedictionary.com.au/blog/article/94/ [1] https://digital.library.upenn.edu/women/brooke/emily/emily.html https://digital.library.upenn.edu/women/brooke/emily/emily.h...
fastball 4y ago
What makes something a god? I am sure there are business people out there that worship at the altar of Tim Cook and his supply chain prowess.

literal god?

joshstrange 4y ago

> literal supply chain god I mean this is what he was known for (and still known for) before he took took the CEO role.

epgui 4y ago
The issue is the incorrect usage of the word "literal".
- nopzor 4y ago
  the word has literally been redefined :-/
  - zimpenfish 4y ago
    No, it hasn't, it's pretty much always been used for both (see https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=32271400 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=32271400 which contains references to the figurative use as far back as 1769.)
- dieselgate 4y ago
  so many people were misusing the word “literally” the Merriam-Webster dictionary definition expanded to include the “figurative exaggerated” usage of it. So I understand but it’s “technically” correct
  - zimpenfish 4y ago
    From the link in https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=32271400 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=32271400, there's references as far back as 1769 where people were "misusing" the word "literally". It has basically never just meant "literal".
- wfme 4y ago
  This comment is _literally_ the epitome of hn.
- skellera 4y ago
  Oddly enough, literal in that context is emphasizing the point instead of… the literal meaning.
- solveit 4y ago
  Turns out exaggeration works by stating things that aren't strictly true. Who would've thought people could be so devious...
- akmarinov 4y ago
  But what if he is though? Can’t prove that he isn’t, you just have to have faith.
- veilrap 4y ago
  "Literally" has always been used figuratively. https://blogs.illinois.edu/view/25/96439 https://blogs.illinois.edu/view/25/96439
- googlryas 4y ago
  Literally literally means both literally and figuratively.
  - eyelidlessness 4y ago
    I’m awed by how many permutations of this comment are possible and how few of those permutations could be considered incorrect.
- epgui 4y ago
  Okay, okay, I figuratively stand corrected, no need to further downvote! Mea culpa haha. :)

nl 4y ago

According to the Oxford dictionary "literal"now means: Taking words in their usual or most basic sense without metaphor or exaggeration. but also: [informal] Absolute (used to emphasize that a strong expression is deliberately chosen to convey one's feelings) That second, informal meaning is correctly being used here. https://www.lexico.com/definition/literally https://www.lexico.com/definition/literally

ahahahahah 4y ago
Sure, if by "Now" you mean since at least 250 years ago. > 1769 F. Brooke Hist. Emily Montague IV. ccxvii. 83 He is a fortunate man to be introduced to such a party of fine women at his arrival; it is literally to feed among the lilies. A better phrasing that correctly uses "now" would be: The OED now recognizes that "literally" can be used to mean "figuratively".
- mistersquid 4y ago
  > > 1769 F. Brooke Hist. Emily Montague IV. ccxvii. 83 He is a fortunate man to be introduced to such a party of fine women at his arrival; it is literally to feed among the lilies. > A better phrasing that correctly uses "now" would be: The OED now recognizes that "literally" can be used to mean "figuratively". I wouldn’t be so sure about that. “Lilies” may figuratively refer to “women” as a group of persons named “Lily”. If so, attending a party filled with “lilies” would mean to literally (literally) feed among them, presuming snacks and refreshments were served at said party.
  - nl 4y ago
    Good try. Fortunately we can check the text[1] and there are no characters named "Lily". However, there is a prior reference to lilies as a thing of beauty: > Our beaux are terribly at a loss for similies: you have lilies of the valley for comparisons; we nothing but what with the idea of whiteness gives that of coldness too. and it seems likely the author was referring to that theme. Additionally this isn't the only quote from a similar timeframe: http://itre.cis.upenn.edu/~myl/languagelog/archives/002611.html http://itre.cis.upenn.edu/~myl/languagelog/archives/002611.h... https://www.macquariedictionary.com.au/blog/article/94/ https://www.macquariedictionary.com.au/blog/article/94/ [1] https://digital.library.upenn.edu/women/brooke/emily/emily.html https://digital.library.upenn.edu/women/brooke/emily/emily.h...

fastball 4y ago

What makes something a god? I am sure there are business people out there that worship at the altar of Tim Cook and his supply chain prowess.