Expression for an expression meaning what it doesn't mean
0
What would one call a word, phrase or expression that, by usage or by miscoinage, comes to mean something which, by etymology, it does not, and more importantly, should not mean in the first place?
Not a misnomer, as the construction of the word/expression is such that it ought to mean something other than what it was constructed for. Also, I have only ever come across the use of misnomer with respect to the use of the word in a given context while its default meaning and usage are fine. So that's not it.
single-word-requests phrase-requests terminology expression-requests
asked 15 hours ago
KrisKris
32.9k641124
add a comment |
0
What would one call a word, phrase or expression that, by usage or by miscoinage, comes to mean something which, by etymology, it does not, and more importantly, should not mean in the first place?
Not a misnomer, as the construction of the word/expression is such that it ought to mean something other than what it was constructed for. Also, I have only ever come across the use of misnomer with respect to the use of the word in a given context while its default meaning and usage are fine. So that's not it.
single-word-requests phrase-requests terminology expression-requests
asked 15 hours ago
KrisKris
32.9k641124
Something always means what it means. If it didn't, it wouldn't. (What you describe is a paradox.) You may want to focus more on asking about something that means something that it shouldn't, not what it doesn't.
– Jason Bassford
14 hours ago
1
@JasonBassford english.stackexchange.com/q/490198/14666
– Kris
14 hours ago
That doesn't change my point. The meaning of telecommuting is "a work arrangement in which employees do not commute or travel." It doesn't mean anything else. Nor are telecommute and commute the same word. As I said, you're asking why telecommute means something that it shouldn't mean (based on word similarity).
– Jason Bassford
14 hours ago
The term antiphrasis - 'the usually ironic or humorous use of words in senses opposite to the generally accepted meanings (as in "this giant of 3 feet 4 inches")' - is related, but not identical.
– Jeremy
8 hours ago
@Aethenosity What about it? There's nothing about the construction of the word that indicates it should mean something else. But the etymology might suggest that. So, really, there are multiple questions here: (1) similar looking words or base forms that suggest something else and (2) semantic shift. Also, the word does still mean happy (in one of its senses). Is this question also asking about synonyms?
– Jason Bassford
6 hours ago
add a comment |
0
0
0
What would one call a word, phrase or expression that, by usage or by miscoinage, comes to mean something which, by etymology, it does not, and more importantly, should not mean in the first place?
Not a misnomer, as the construction of the word/expression is such that it ought to mean something other than what it was constructed for. Also, I have only ever come across the use of misnomer with respect to the use of the word in a given context while its default meaning and usage are fine. So that's not it.
single-word-requests phrase-requests terminology expression-requests
asked 15 hours ago
KrisKris
32.9k641124
What would one call a word, phrase or expression that, by usage or by miscoinage, comes to mean something which, by etymology, it does not, and more importantly, should not mean in the first place?
Not a misnomer, as the construction of the word/expression is such that it ought to mean something other than what it was constructed for. Also, I have only ever come across the use of misnomer with respect to the use of the word in a given context while its default meaning and usage are fine. So that's not it.
single-word-requests phrase-requests terminology expression-requests
single-word-requests phrase-requests terminology expression-requests
asked 15 hours ago
KrisKris
32.9k641124
asked 15 hours ago
KrisKris
32.9k641124
asked 15 hours ago
KrisKris
32.9k641124
asked 15 hours ago
KrisKris
32.9k641124
asked 15 hours ago
KrisKris
32.9k641124
32.9k641124
Something always means what it means. If it didn't, it wouldn't. (What you describe is a paradox.) You may want to focus more on asking about something that means something that it shouldn't, not what it doesn't.
– Jason Bassford
14 hours ago
1
@JasonBassford english.stackexchange.com/q/490198/14666
– Kris
14 hours ago
That doesn't change my point. The meaning of telecommuting is "a work arrangement in which employees do not commute or travel." It doesn't mean anything else. Nor are telecommute and commute the same word. As I said, you're asking why telecommute means something that it shouldn't mean (based on word similarity).
– Jason Bassford
14 hours ago
The term antiphrasis - 'the usually ironic or humorous use of words in senses opposite to the generally accepted meanings (as in "this giant of 3 feet 4 inches")' - is related, but not identical.
– Jeremy
8 hours ago
@Aethenosity What about it? There's nothing about the construction of the word that indicates it should mean something else. But the etymology might suggest that. So, really, there are multiple questions here: (1) similar looking words or base forms that suggest something else and (2) semantic shift. Also, the word does still mean happy (in one of its senses). Is this question also asking about synonyms?
– Jason Bassford
6 hours ago
add a comment |
Something always means what it means. If it didn't, it wouldn't. (What you describe is a paradox.) You may want to focus more on asking about something that means something that it shouldn't, not what it doesn't.
– Jason Bassford
14 hours ago
1
@JasonBassford english.stackexchange.com/q/490198/14666
– Kris
14 hours ago
That doesn't change my point. The meaning of telecommuting is "a work arrangement in which employees do not commute or travel." It doesn't mean anything else. Nor are telecommute and commute the same word. As I said, you're asking why telecommute means something that it shouldn't mean (based on word similarity).
– Jason Bassford
14 hours ago
The term antiphrasis - 'the usually ironic or humorous use of words in senses opposite to the generally accepted meanings (as in "this giant of 3 feet 4 inches")' - is related, but not identical.
– Jeremy
8 hours ago
@Aethenosity What about it? There's nothing about the construction of the word that indicates it should mean something else. But the etymology might suggest that. So, really, there are multiple questions here: (1) similar looking words or base forms that suggest something else and (2) semantic shift. Also, the word does still mean happy (in one of its senses). Is this question also asking about synonyms?
– Jason Bassford
6 hours ago
Something always means what it means. If it didn't, it wouldn't. (What you describe is a paradox.) You may want to focus more on asking about something that means something that it shouldn't, not what it doesn't.
– Jason Bassford
14 hours ago
Something always means what it means. If it didn't, it wouldn't. (What you describe is a paradox.) You may want to focus more on asking about something that means something that it shouldn't, not what it doesn't.
– Jason Bassford
14 hours ago
1
1
@JasonBassford english.stackexchange.com/q/490198/14666
– Kris
14 hours ago
@JasonBassford english.stackexchange.com/q/490198/14666
– Kris
14 hours ago
That doesn't change my point. The meaning of telecommuting is "a work arrangement in which employees do not commute or travel." It doesn't mean anything else. Nor are telecommute and commute the same word. As I said, you're asking why telecommute means something that it shouldn't mean (based on word similarity).
– Jason Bassford
14 hours ago
That doesn't change my point. The meaning of telecommuting is "a work arrangement in which employees do not commute or travel." It doesn't mean anything else. Nor are telecommute and commute the same word. As I said, you're asking why telecommute means something that it shouldn't mean (based on word similarity).
– Jason Bassford
14 hours ago
The term antiphrasis - 'the usually ironic or humorous use of words in senses opposite to the generally accepted meanings (as in "this giant of 3 feet 4 inches")' - is related, but not identical.
– Jeremy
8 hours ago
The term antiphrasis - 'the usually ironic or humorous use of words in senses opposite to the generally accepted meanings (as in "this giant of 3 feet 4 inches")' - is related, but not identical.
– Jeremy
8 hours ago
@Aethenosity What about it? There's nothing about the construction of the word that indicates it should mean something else. But the etymology might suggest that. So, really, there are multiple questions here: (1) similar looking words or base forms that suggest something else and (2) semantic shift. Also, the word does still mean happy (in one of its senses). Is this question also asking about synonyms?
– Jason Bassford
6 hours ago
@Aethenosity What about it? There's nothing about the construction of the word that indicates it should mean something else. But the etymology might suggest that. So, really, there are multiple questions here: (1) similar looking words or base forms that suggest something else and (2) semantic shift. Also, the word does still mean happy (in one of its senses). Is this question also asking about synonyms?
– Jason Bassford
6 hours ago
add a comment |
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Something always means what it means. If it didn't, it wouldn't. (What you describe is a paradox.) You may want to focus more on asking about something that means something that it shouldn't, not what it doesn't.
– Jason Bassford
14 hours ago
1
@JasonBassford english.stackexchange.com/q/490198/14666
– Kris
14 hours ago
That doesn't change my point. The meaning of telecommuting is "a work arrangement in which employees do not commute or travel." It doesn't mean anything else. Nor are telecommute and commute the same word. As I said, you're asking why telecommute means something that it shouldn't mean (based on word similarity).
– Jason Bassford
14 hours ago
The term antiphrasis - 'the usually ironic or humorous use of words in senses opposite to the generally accepted meanings (as in "this giant of 3 feet 4 inches")' - is related, but not identical.
– Jeremy
8 hours ago
@Aethenosity What about it? There's nothing about the construction of the word that indicates it should mean something else. But the etymology might suggest that. So, really, there are multiple questions here: (1) similar looking words or base forms that suggest something else and (2) semantic shift. Also, the word does still mean happy (in one of its senses). Is this question also asking about synonyms?
– Jason Bassford
6 hours ago