Posted on 12/16/2010 5:57:40 AM PST by secret garden
In order that we might all raise the level of discourse and expand our language abilities, here is the daily post of "Word for the Day".
demotic \dih-MOT-ik\, adjective
1. Of or pertaining to the common people; popular.
2. Of or pertaining to the ordinary, everyday, current form of a language; vernacular, colloquial.
3. Of, pertaining to, or noting the simplified form of hieratic writing used in ancient Egypt between 700 b.c. and a.d. 500.
Example sentences:
The unmistakable Roth delivery - that inimitably juicy, excoriating, grandstanding blend of the demotic and the literary that peaks in ranting splendour in the best of his long novels - is here reduced to a narrative voice that seems to flirt with banality.
-- "Critical eye: Book Reviews Roundup," www.guardian.co.uk, October, 2010.
Allying himself with the socialist tendency within the movement, Rotas sought to support demotic culture and its language.
-- Peter Holland, Writing about Shakespeare
Etymology:
Demotic, which obviously shares a root with democracy, simply means that which is of (or for) the common people. It may be used to describe a piece of writing (the demotic masterpiece, the Declaration of Independence), or common language—the demotic words of an area or population. The word demotic comes from the Greek demotikos, which means "of or the common people.” Further broken down, demos is the Greek word for the plebeian, the average Joe, from a word that originally meant district. Demotic was first seen in English in the early 1800s, and has been around ever since, shifting in meaning from time to time. Imagine if the famous film The Exorcist were written by a linguist. Linda Blair, the young girl possessed by Pazuzu turns her head around and shouts maniacally, “y'all want some sweet tea?” “My goodness!” the priest cries, “it's absolutely demotic!” A linguist shakes his head in the corner of the room. “Southern American demotic,” he exhales slowly. “Looks like we've got a trip to take.” Demotic possession is definitely something of which to be frightened.
The sentence must, in some way, relate to the news of the day. The Review threads are linked for your edification. ;-)
Practice makes perfect.....post on....
Review Thread One: Word For The Day, Thursday 11/14/02: Raffish (Be SURE to check out posts #92 and #111 on this thread!)
Review Thread Two: Word For The Day, Tuesday 1/14/03: Roister
Review Thread Three: Word For The Day, Tuesday 1/28/03: Obdurate
WFB's attempt to emulate us ; ) No pushing at the door please!
Sheesh. Ruint the tag line on the last post
Barack’s “Hope and Change,” so demotic
Was just a ruse for his agenda, despotic
Did this Marxist take note?
Of the last right-wing vote
Can he ignore one strong voice, patriotic?
;)
A for you and welcome to WFTD!
Thanks! Have a great day!
Nice limerick!
Oh, I feel much better! There is an actual Joe Biden story in the news today. And, it is sort of demonic, in a way...
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2643503/posts
Stop scaring the class. A for you!
Thank you.
“Thank you Your Countship for asking. Having just received my diploma as a certified Pastuer of the Church the Ether (ether you go or you don't) I can answer your question.
Demots are like angles that are really bent like old Judge Lipscum who got re-elected so everyone would know where he was and what he was doing while the sun was shining.”
You are very welcome. Have a good afternoon!
No problem. We understand priorities.
NO HE CAN’T!!! We need bumper stickers to tell him and his ilk. A+ for you!
Um, okay, here’s your A.
(Robt wonders innocently if Sharky told MrsSharky that he was out eating lunch with three (!!!!) younger ladies today.....)
so xsteen is home, and xsboy and xshub are en route from Syracuse and will be driving at night bc his last final wasn't done til 4pm or so.
ROFLMAO....
I was about to ask, if you were absent all day, because you were still all aflutter from Ovie being shirtless : )
the tramp stamp took me aback.... LMAO! I am baking and stuff for the party this weekend, and we had 3 inches of snow which also took me by surprise. xssoph had school but i went to get her early bc the roads were def bad, and traffic was horrendous.
Well, don’t give me all the details!
oh i didn’t realize you hadn’t seen it!
i actually feel a bit more warmly towards Bylsma. the girls still think he looks like some star wars geek, though.
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