Can someone enlighten me as to why we use the word awful to describe something horrible or nasty, when the word offal is much better suited to the task? This is just something I've been wondering about. I might make it my mission in life to see that 3rd definition of "awful" moved over to "offal" and have "offal" become the primary descriptive word for "nasty" (as opposed to "awful"). Who's with me?!
Posted by Dagonee (Member # 5818) on :
I kahncurr.
Posted by Javert (Member # 3076) on :
See, I've always said "offal". I've just pronounced it "awful", so you wouldn't have noticed until now.
Posted by Tante Shvester (Member # 8202) on :
I always thought that "offal" meant the parts of the animal besides the meat -- like liver, spleen, kidneys, etc.
"Awful" inspires awe. But not in a good way.
If someone served you a particularly disgusting liver and onions, it would be awful offal.
No?
Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :
Yes.
Posted by Nighthawk (Member # 4176) on :
Q: Why do you drive in a parkway and park in a driveway?
A: Because English sucks.
Posted by mr_porteiro_head (Member # 4644) on :
Awful != awe full, just like always != all ways.
Posted by Teshi (Member # 5024) on :
But they are related.
Awful and offal inspire quite different ideas.
Posted by mr_porteiro_head (Member # 4644) on :
The words pioneer, peon, and pawn are all related as well, but they're still different words with different meanings.
Posted by Dagonee (Member # 5818) on :
quote:Awful != awe full, just like always != all ways.
It's true they're not equal, but the third definition of the former is the latter, and there's plenty of examples of it being used that way.
Posted by mr_porteiro_head (Member # 4644) on :
I don't follow. I read your sentence as saying that the third definition of awful (extremely disagreeable or objectionable) is the same thing as awe full, but that doesn't make sense.
Posted by dkw (Member # 3264) on :
quote: aw‧ful /ˈɔfəl/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[aw-fuhl] Pronunciation Key - Show IPA Pronunciation
–adjective 1. extremely bad; unpleasant; ugly: awful paintings; an awful job. 2. inspiring fear; dreadful; terrible: an awful noise. 3. solemnly impressive; inspiring awe: the awful majesty of alpine peaks. 4. full of awe; reverential. 5. extremely dangerous, risky, injurious, etc.: That was an awful fall she had. He took an awful chance by driving here so fast. –adverb 6. Informal. very; extremely: He did an awful good job of painting the barn. It's awful hot in here.
Posted by mr_porteiro_head (Member # 4644) on :
Where are you quoting from, Dana?
Posted by Jon Boy (Member # 4284) on :
quote:Originally posted by mr_porteiro_head: Awful != awe full, just like always != all ways.
In what sense are you saying they're not equivalent: etymologically or semantically?
Posted by Dagonee (Member # 5818) on :
By the way, I've used in it both senses and seen it in both senses pretty my entire literate life, although the "extremely bad" usage is more common.
Posted by Will B (Member # 7931) on :
It happens in many cases. Offal is truly awful. Gambling can be gamboling. And littoral is literally litoral.
Posted by aspectre (Member # 2222) on :
oops -- the quote was from Dictionary.com
Posted by BlackBlade (Member # 8376) on :
I believe there is a passage in the book of Revelations where John says,
"6 And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus: and when I saw her, I wondered with great admiration."
It should be obvious that John is not suggesting that the woman in the passage is somebody we should admire in the current common use of the word,
1. To regard with pleasure, wonder, and approval. 2. To have a high opinion of; esteem or respect. 3. Chiefly New England & Upper Southern U.S. To enjoy (something): “I just admire to get letters, but I don't admire to answer them” (Dialect Notes).
Probably more along the lines of, 4. Archaic. To marvel or wonder at.
I see aweful in the same vein. There are things so terrible it fills me with awe that they are thus, but there could also be things so good they invoke the same emotion.
Though I would probably specify if I used awful in a positive sense as it seems that just from the natural path of the English language the negative connotation is usually meant.