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Have you noticed that people are increasingly using the world "legitimately" incorrectly these days? I think people are confusing it with the word "genuinely". And it's not just millennials either. I'll hear fully grown and educated people say something like "I was legitimately amused" or "heartbroken" or some other emotion. And I don't think they mean to express so much that their emotion was justified by the circumstances as that it was subjectively real and deeply felt.
I don't know. I'm waiting for some lawyer in the Newcastle to return my call and thought I'd drop by and a vent a bit while I wait. Love his secretary's accent, by the way.
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"If you are the owner of a new stereophonic system, this record will play with even more brilliant true-to-life fidelity. In short, you can purchase this record with no fear of its becoming obsolete in the future."
Follow Ups:
I'm personally fed up with the over use and MISuse of the word 'Amazing'.
Too much is never enough
Does that work? Can we do that in New England, or do I need to monogram all my shirts with a red "A" now??? ;o)
Works for me, you bastard! Hah, hah, just kidding. A little play on the whole illegitimate thing! :-)
I think I'm watching too much Game of Thrones. I would be Josh Snow if I were illegitimate.
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"If you are the owner of a new stereophonic system, this record will play with even more brilliant true-to-life fidelity. In short, you can purchase this record with no fear of its becoming obsolete in the future."
/
That is, for someone with a lot of time on his hands.
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"If you are the owner of a new stereophonic system, this record will play with even more brilliant true-to-life fidelity. In short, you can purchase this record with no fear of its becoming obsolete in the future."
...what's happening to our language?
Among the 38 new words just added to the dictionary:
1. AUGH
2. BEZZY
3. BLECH
4. CAKEHOLE
5. CAZH
6. CHECKBOX
7. COQUI
8. DENCH
9. DEVO
10. EEW
11. EMOJI
12. FACETIME
13. GEOCACHE
14. GRR
15. HACTIVIST
16. HASHTAG
17. IXNAY
18. LOLZ
19. LOTSA
20. NEWB
And my fave:
21. OBVS
I just don't like the incorrect usage of words.
BUt is the Scrabble Dictionary authoritative? I actually liked the game more before I learned some of the silly words in order to win.
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"If you are the owner of a new stereophonic system, this record will play with even more brilliant true-to-life fidelity. In short, you can purchase this record with no fear of its becoming obsolete in the future."
Language evolves. Even so, I'm not sure I see the leap in this case. Legitimate = real = genuine.
Yes, languages evolve, but the dictionary definitions you linked to do not support the use of the word "legitimate" in place of "genuine". Genuine and legitimate may be synonyms within certain contexts (though I cannot think of any in which they convey precisely the same meaning) but they are not within the context I cited.
Of course you are correct that languages are dynamic. I cannot imagine the word "unique" continuing to mean what it means for much longer. Eventually it will just refer to something really great or interesting, not to something that is one of a kind. Legitimately is to adverbs what unique is to adjectives these days.
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"If you are the owner of a new stereophonic system, this record will play with even more brilliant true-to-life fidelity. In short, you can purchase this record with no fear of its becoming obsolete in the future."
Like I said, I am being persnickety.
But I see the best synonym for "genuine" to be "true". So, an unmolested photocopy of a document can be said to be a genuine copy or a true copy. One can be genuinely sad or truly sad. I do not think one can be legitimately sad unless trying to convince others that his sadness made sense given what had happened.
For "legitimate", I see the best synonym to be "justified" or "legal/fair". A punishment can be legitimate or justified, both in the sense of being legal and fair. But a "genuine punishment" would emphasize the severity not the fairness.
IMHO.
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"If you are the owner of a new stereophonic system, this record will play with even more brilliant true-to-life fidelity. In short, you can purchase this record with no fear of its becoming obsolete in the future."
... Time for lawyer hats is it? d:o)
"genuinely sad or truly sad" can mean two entirely different things, depending on the context of the question, statement, answer or reference to thereof.
One can be truly sad but this does not automatically mean one is genuinely sad. (see above)
I do not think one can be legitimately sad unless trying to convince others that his sadness made sense given what had happened.
Agreed, I doubt one will state one's self is, 'legitimately sad', unless in direct reference to, or answer to, a question posed by another seeking clarification or reasoning of one's sadness. (as you alluded to) It is far more likely a third party might use this term in describing or analyzing the emotion being observed.
For "legitimate", I see the best synonym to be "justified" or "legal/fair".
Of course one can ask a legitimate question but it in no way needs to be justified, legal or fair, though it may well be. (think about it)
As a mental exercise, sometimes using antonyms to present the opposite of what one is trying to convey can help in understanding what the best words to use are to convey what one's particular thoughts are.
One of my pet hates is when folks use words, in prose and speech, which have a specific meaning but use them incorrectly. Two simple examples are words like 'always' & 'never' have specific meaning. If left without a qualifier it is hard to dispute the meaning of always & never. However when qualified, such as, 'nearly' always & 'almost' never the precise meanings are lost and open to conjecture and interpretation.
I have rambled on long enough and I am in need of a cup of strong, Black Assam tea.
Enjoy your weekend Mr T.
Smile
Sox
I actually think genuinely sad and truly sad mean the exact same thing, but am genuinely and truly interested in how you see the two potentially differ. ;-)
With your example about a "legitimate question", I admit you have me stumped, but what would you say "legitimate" does mean in that contact if not fair or justified. I'm drawing a blank.
Hope you have a nice weekend as well. Eunha and I are off to Dallas tomorrow for a patients' conference. I guess we should seek out some good BBQ or chicken fried steak with white gravy! Maybe I'll come back with a Texas accent.
Enjoy your tea. I'm going to bed. Have to get up early for the flight.
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"If you are the owner of a new stereophonic system, this record will play with even more brilliant true-to-life fidelity. In short, you can purchase this record with no fear of its becoming obsolete in the future."
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