CORRECTIONS & EXPLANATIONS - December 14, 2008

Here are the corrections and explanations for last week's entries.

Monday

BUTT/BRUNT

An old meaning of “butt” is target. One can be the target of a joke and, thus, become the butt of a joke.

“Brunt” means a sharp blow or attack. Thus, one has to bear the brunt of a joke. A person can never be a brunt.


Tuesday

SOJOURN/JOURNEY

A “sojourn” is a temporary stay in one place.

A “journey” is a trip, a ride or a voyage. If one is constantly on the move, he is not on a sojourn.


Wednesday

PREMISE/PREMISES

A “premise” is a term in logic meaning something assumed or taken as given in making an argument. It is a basis or foundation of an argument.

“Premises”, regardless of size, means one’s residence or a building where one lives.


Thursday

What is not right in the following examples? Make and explain your corrections.

“Republicans seized on the corruption charges against Blagojevich, a Democrat, to demand a more fulsome explanation from Obama about the relationship he and senior members of his inner circle had with the disgraced politician.”

“Fulsome” means excessive, immoderate or flattering and always has a negative connotation. The context demands a different meaning such as “fuller”.

“Republicans seized on the corruption charges against Blagojevich, a Democrat, to demand a fuller explanation from Obama about the relationship he and senior members of his inner circle had with the disgraced politician.”


“Food and beverages will be on sale as well as a beer tent.”

The sentence, as written, says that food, beverages and a beer tent will be for sale. I don’t think the tent is for sale. The sentence should be reworded for better sense.

“A beer tent will be provided and food and beverages will be on sale.”


Friday

COLLABORATION/CORROBORATION

“Collaborate” means to share, to join forces or to work together.

“Corroborate” means to strengthen, support or substantiate an argument.


A LIFE ETHIC

“Hold faithfulness and sincerity as first principles.”
Confucius, the Chinese philosopher said this.


LAST WEEK’S WORDS

“Fulminate” (v.) means to explode or detonate with a loud noise. It also means to denounce vehemently or loudly.

The spark caused the leaking gas to fulminate and destroy the lab.
Many Canadians fulminated against the prorogation of Parliament last week.

“Peremptory” (adj.) means absolute, leaving no opportunity for denial or debate or refusal.

“Capacious” (adj.) means large, roomy or voluminous.

“Commodious” (adj.) means roomy, spacious, convenient or amply.

“Corporeal” (adj.) means earthly, human or bodily. The root word is the Latin "corpus" meaning body.