Dec. 1st, 2006

pipistrellafelix: (classroom)
Intellectually I know that "nonplussed" means perplexed, bewildered, to be thrown by something. But it sounds so much like "nonchalant" that whenever I read or write the word "nonplussed" it doesn't mean to me what it ought to.

Possibly because if one were "plussed"--although that's not a word in that sense, but then neither is "chalant"--if one were "plussed," I feel like it ought to be a synonym for "perturbed."

Fortunately English isn't based on what I feel like words should mean. It still throws me, though. (One might say I was...nonplussed.)

Profile

pipistrellafelix: (Default)
pipistrellafelix

October 2012

S M T W T F S
 123 456
78910 111213
14151617 181920
2122232425 2627
28293031   

Most Popular Tags

Style Credit

Expand Cut Tags

No cut tags
Page generated Aug. 22nd, 2025 01:38 am
Powered by Dreamwidth Studios