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Originally Posted by ApK
Why would you ask a biologist?
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Because the word describes a biological habitat.
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Just because the adjective subnivean is used to describe a climate or habitat in biology in no way means that it is incorrect to use it in other contexts.
ApK
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The word 'subnivean' wasn't used. The word used was subnivial, a word made up to suit the author's desire at the time. I don't believe you can find it in the OED. If one's grasp of Latin is strong enough, you can 'assume' that the author's intention is that it means 'under the snow.' But that's just this author's incorrect usage of the word.
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Originally Posted by mbovenka
 It just means 'under the snow'. |
In the same way that 'arm' means the things that hang off one's shoulders... or was it to give weapons, or was it take possession of weapons... wait... it was to prepare a weapon to fire... no... it was....
Would you say 'he armed them with a refrigerator?' You'd get the 'idea' that he 'gave' them a fridge. But the usage wouldn't be correct.
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Originally Posted by HarryT
Nope - I hope! Would you read any author who couldn't get so basic a thing as the difference between "its" and it's" right? I wouldn't!
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Gosh, I would. I read as much for content as I do for writing style. Grammar mistakes, spelling mistakes, etc., unless they make the content impossible to understand, have no effect on my enjoyment of the read.
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Originally Posted by ApK
Now, if the author had referred to the lawn, with it's fleeting seasonal snowcover, as being in an subnivean climate, then I might agree that he misused the term "subnivean climate."
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Actually, 'subnivian climate' would be more accurate usage than 'subnivial lawn.' The first few inches of space on top of ground that has been covered with snow has a warmer temperature than the air above the snow, which is why there is snow melt in that zone creating the runways and tunnels used by rodents moving from place to place in search of food. The Subnivian Zone is a differentiated climactic area. The lawn isn't. It's just a lawn under the snow.
Stitchawl