From owner-cse575-fa08-list@LISTSERV.BUFFALO.EDU Thu Nov 20 11:23:04 2008 Date: Thu, 20 Nov 2008 11:12:48 -0500 From: "Paul M. Heider" Subject: defining your terms To: CSE575-FA08-LIST@LISTSERV.BUFFALO.EDU Given our discussion of dictionary definitions today, the last PhD Comic seemed especially appropriate: http://www.phdcomics.com/comics/archive.php?comicid=1099 Paul From owner-cse575-fa08-list@LISTSERV.BUFFALO.EDU Thu Nov 20 15:15:31 2008 Date: Thu, 20 Nov 2008 15:04:03 -0500 From: "William J. Rapaport" Subject: Re: defining your terms To: CSE575-FA08-LIST@LISTSERV.BUFFALO.EDU I fully agree and was even considering including that in my talk, though I downplayed the dictionary for lack of time. Here's an interesting puzzle, however: Can you find "the actual dictionary" that is quoted in the comic strip? > http://www.phdcomics.com/comics/archive.php?comicid=1099 From owner-cse575-fa08-list@LISTSERV.BUFFALO.EDU Thu Nov 20 16:55:21 2008 Date: Thu, 20 Nov 2008 16:37:37 -0500 From: "Paul M. Heider" Subject: Re: defining your terms To: CSE575-FA08-LIST@LISTSERV.BUFFALO.EDU On Thu, Nov 20, 2008 at 3:04 PM, William J. Rapaport wrote: > I fully agree and was even considering including that in my talk, > though I downplayed the dictionary for lack of time. > > Here's an interesting puzzle, however: Can you find "the actual > dictionary" that is quoted in the comic strip? My version of StarDict (which slurps up other open dictionaries) provides at least the first definition but has no mention of teachers: <--- Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English ---> profess v [T] formal [Date: 1400-1500; Language: Latin; Origin: professus, past participle of profiteri 'to profess, confess']// 1 to say that you do, are etc something, especially when it is not really true: profess to do/be sth// --The government professes to care about the poor.// --He professed to be an expert on Islamic art.// 2 profess your innocence: to say that you did not do something bad, especially a crime// --In court, the man was still professing his innocence.// 3 to state a personal feeling or belief openly: --He finally made up his mind to profess his love for her.// profess yourself (to be) sth// --He professed himself satisfied with the results.// 4 to have a religion or belief: --Matt professed no religion.//