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Old 10-12-2012, 07:44 AM   #20
pdurrant
The Grand Mouse 高貴的老鼠
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Quote:
Originally Posted by HarryT View Post
"Awe" is a feeling of reverential wonder or dread. Is this really the feeling that knowing how long it's going to take you to finish the chapter of a book inspires in you?
Yes, misusing words is really awful.

Unless, of course, those words have changed their meaning. Awesome no longer means inspiring awe, anymore than awful means inspiring awe. We have a new word for that meaning: "awe-inspiring".

I refer you to the wonderful (in the sense of "good and well written" rather than "provoking wonder") radio show John Finnemore's Souvenir Programme, which covered this topic just this week.

Now that's an awesome coincidence.
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