Words in words

Victor · 26-05-2003 08:42PM #1

Latin is the core of translating.

There is sin in all business.

Talliesin · 27-05-2003 11:06AM

On a similar note can anyone remember the term used to describe the insertion of a word, typically a swear word, into a polysyllabic word? E.g "fan-bloody-tastic". (I was going to make this a definition of the day, but I've forgotten the word, and only recall the definition

)

sceptre · 27-05-2003 07:18PM

Originally posted by Talliesin
On a similar note can anyone remember the term used to describe the insertion of a word, typically a swear word, into a polysyllabic word? E.g "fan-bloody-tastic". (I was going to make this a definition of the day, but I've forgotten the word, and only recall the definition )

I think it's a tmesis.

Talliesin · 29-05-2003 10:59AM

Originally posted by sceptre
I think it's a tmesis.

That's the one I was trying to think of, though there's apparantly some dispute on whether it correctly matches that definition.

hedgetrimmer · 13-06-2003 04:04PM

tmesis is the separation of a compound word by one or more intervening words, like, um.... when it is ever instead of whenever

But I think insertions such as "fan-bloody-tastic" could be cited as idiomatic tmesis, I suppose

Talliesin · 16-06-2003 12:13PM

Originally posted by hedgetrimmer
But I think insertions such as "fan-bloody-tastic" could be cited as idiomatic tmesis, I suppose

Whether it can or not is a matter of some controversy, as I noted when I used it as a definition of the day.

Words in words

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