rubywax

Comments by rubywax

• RubyWax commented on the word alphasyllabary

  Alphasyllabaries (or abugidas) An alphabet type that has letters to represent consonant sounds; vowel sounds are shown with diacritics (modifiers to the consonant letters). Examples of abugidas : Tamil, Thai, Tibetan.

  There are 3 types of alphabets:

  1 - Abugidas (or alphasyllabaries) have letters to represent consonant sounds; vowel sounds are shown with diacritics (modifiers to the consonant letters).

  2 - Abjads only represent consonant sounds; vowel sounds are not shown.

  3 - True alphabets have letters to represent both consonant and vowel sounds.

  January 18, 2013

• RubyWax commented on the word metagrobolized

  It is from Rabelais, a French author from late 15th century. It was a common reading during my school days as a young schoolboy.

  The old french verb is spelled "matagraboliser" which Rabelais, it is said, invented in his novel "Gargantua".

  Quote ....Il y a dix-huit jours que je suis a matagraboliser cette belle harangue..... Eighteen days I toil to matagrabolise this fine harangue .......Unquote

  In this instance a burlesque word meaning; To give oneself much trouble for nothing.

  This word is the combination of three greek words: mataios (inept), grapho (write), and ballo (throw); matagraboliser in latin would be "ineptas scriptiones emittere".

  I found this information in an earlier re-edition of his first novels at my local library.

  April 23, 2012

• ruzuzu commented on the user RubyWax

  I enjoyed your comment on metagrobolized. Welcome to Wordnik!

  April 23, 2012