Sometimes our usage advice reads more like a public service announcement. This is a typical case.
“I’m having a great time, thanks.”
What does sad mean?
There are two words that start with the letter “d” that rhyme with power. One is relatively common, and the other is very vague. The word common is an adjective, and it is spelled like sour: boring. It is used most often in somewhat formal contexts to describe people who are strict or harsh, or the mannerisms and expressions of such people:
The austere principal had an austere expression emphasizing his austere personality.
It also describes what can happen when encountering austerities—that is, it acts as a synonym of bleak or cheerless:
The scolding we received from the teacher made us sad and dismayed.
boring finally from Latin stubbornmeans “hard”—same source as durable And suffer—and has been in use since the 14th century.
dower meaning
homonym grant also dates back to the 14th century, but it has struggled in recent years, mainly because dowry is no longer a common feature in the lives of most English speakers. As a noun, this word is a synonym of dowry and also the term for a portion or interest in a deceased husband’s estate to which a widow may be gifted while still alive. As a verb, it means “to provide a dowry.” No use makes it a hot term. Grant finally Latin; it comes from dot- or domeans “gift” or “marriage part.”
Both boring And grant are actual English words, which means a warning here: sometimes spell check can’t help you. Pick grant only if the context concerns a dowry or financial arrangement for the widow; pick boring to describe moody and gloomy and severe and harsh. Good times, as they say, either way.
Categories: Usage Notes
Source: vothisaucamau.edu.vn
