Noun: Difference between revisions

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A {{tag|noun}} is a person, place or thing, though preferably — in the mind of a quill-wielding [[mediocre lawyer|solicitor]] — an ''abstract'' thing that started out life as a {{tag|verb}}.  
{{pe}}A {{tag|noun}} is a person, place or thing, though preferably — in the mind of a quill-wielding [[mediocre lawyer|solicitor]] — an ''abstract'' thing that started out life as a {{tag|verb}}.  


As far as your counsel is concerned, the best kinds of nouns have gone through several {{tag|grammar}} reassignment operations: That old favourite [[applicability]] started out life as a [[verb]] (“''[[apply]]''”), became a [[noun]] (“''[[application|applicability]]''”), reverted back to a [[verb]] — albeit a [[passive]] one — (“to be ''[[applicable]]''”), and eventually settled on a life of [[tedious]] [[noun]]itude in its adult form as “''[[applicability]]''”.
As far as your counsel is concerned, the best kinds of nouns have gone through several {{tag|grammar}} reassignment operations: That old favourite [[applicability]] started out life as a [[verb]] (“''[[apply]]''”), became a [[noun]] (“''[[application|applicability]]''”), reverted back to a [[verb]] — albeit a [[passive]] one — (“to be ''[[applicable]]''”), and eventually settled on a life of [[tedious]] [[noun]]itude in its adult form as “''[[applicability]]''”.
{{plainenglish}}
{{c|Plain English}}

Latest revision as of 13:12, 18 July 2019

Towards more picturesque speech


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A noun is a person, place or thing, though preferably — in the mind of a quill-wielding solicitor — an abstract thing that started out life as a verb.

As far as your counsel is concerned, the best kinds of nouns have gone through several grammar reassignment operations: That old favourite applicability started out life as a verb (“apply”), became a noun (“applicability”), reverted back to a verb — albeit a passive one — (“to be applicable”), and eventually settled on a life of tedious nounitude in its adult form as “applicability”.