Oh Language –9
Curiously, a blog reader told me more as a reminder perhaps that “nail”
is also used to refer to finger nails –is it not?” was the tone of the person.
For once I felt ‘clean bowled’. Yes, the most common day-to-day usage ‘nail’
stands for the natural defender –the finger nail. With no inhibition I thank
the person for the timely tip that had simply eluded my memory when it should
not have. Some readers are quite responsive, glad I am. That memory can rush to
anyone’s help is Quite Intelligible.
Further ones
SEAL
Seal is an animal; a large mammal that can be in sea land or ice
Seal [v] means the arrangement to close a container with a ‘cover or lid’
to prevent leak or pilfer.
Seal
It is an act of closing a letter with an adhesive and putting a ‘stamp’
of identity.
SPRING
Spring may mean a climatic situation [season] when most plants begin to
break dormant phase and bring off new foliage or sprout or flowers [bloom].
Such seasons are clear and pronounced in temperate zones.
‘Spring’ can also refer to a coiled metallic wire that can be compressed
by pressure but can stretch itself if pressure is relaxed. It is a sudden
response. When a thing ‘least expected’
happens, it springs a surprise.
A natural burst of water from the ground is named a ‘Spring’
TERM
‘Term’ is a common expression to refer to some scientific name [word]
named a ‘technical term’.
Being so, ‘term’ can indicate word[s] as in ‘un-parliamentary terms’.
‘Term’ would also mean the set of conditions as in ‘TERMS OF REFERENCE’
relating to any investigation or probe.
‘Term’ can also indicate the specific period as in ‘Term of office’ or
tenure.
‘Term’ can be used to indicate the part of an academic calendar as in ‘I
term or II term’ of the year.
TIME
A common term to refer to a part of the day-is ‘Time’. It can be by
stating the hour, minute and second or simply as a broad time band as ‘lunch
time’/ ‘tea time’ / ‘Examination time’ and so on
‘TIME’ is also used as a verb as in, ‘he timed the shot so well that none
could stop the speeding ball’. Here ‘timed’ indicates the right moment chosen to
hit the ball.
Same is the effect in the statement, “the workers ‘timed’ their protest
so precisely, as to damage the market prospects of the firm that the management
had to passively accept the demands of workers.
TUMBLER
‘Tumbler’ is the name of a vessel used for drinking water /beverages.
Such containers have no handle and can be taken by clasping. In its original
form a ‘tumbler’ was one with a slightly curved bottom [ Lottaa in vernacular]; the curved bottom would make it tumble [thus
tumbler]. But, now all small vessels for drinking are summarily named
TUMBLER.
STOP
‘Stop’ is a word that can be a noun or a verb.
A ‘stop’ [n] is a place where transport vehicles stop for passengers to
alight or enter.
Stop turns a verb as in ‘stop’ writing call, when an examination comes to
an end.
USE
‘Use’ is another term that can be a noun or a verb. Use [n] refers to
some utility or advantage as in ‘My car has more uses than I thought.
Use [v] Use my car to complete your visits in time.
In the statement “Use your time usefully” – respectively ’use’ and
‘usefully’ serve as verb and noun in a statement.
WIT
The term ‘wit’ refers to the ability to use words in a clever and
humorous way [keeps the listeners happy and attentive]
‘Wit’, also means the specific ability of intelligent use of words.
Wits [plural]
The term refers to the combined
ability of intelligence and very quick thinking.
