English Language & Usage: Multi-Layered Discourse Room

Jasper Loy

00:00

OMG the asker has actually accepted the answer when I don't even know what the question is on the flatten question. =)

Tonepoet

00:13

That's strange given that the answer effectively states it is not really applicable with the line "Without stretching it, a sphere cannot be directly developed."

The acceptance system on this website is rather strange.

I wouldn't mind if it was just the checkmark, but the accepted answer also gets sorted to the top...

curiousdannii

@Tonepoet If another answer is voted more then it may appear ahead of the accepted answer. But I'm not sure how many more votes are needed

Jasper Loy

@Tonepoet It is possible that none of the people on that post know what they are talking about.

That's probably it, the way I parse their sentences.

curiousdannii

@Tonepoet You should've followed the Machete order: IV, V, II, III, VI. It turns the prequels into a kind of flashback, actually improves the original trilogy by putting Luke's temptation by the dark side into a stronger contrast with Anakin's giving in to temptation, and skips ep I because it's terrible ;)

@JasperLoy Episode's 1-3 are really like a bad fanfic ;)

Jasper Loy

@Tonepoet It's not important what the line says. The whole post is gibberish. =)

@curiousdannii I think I watched parts of those and I liked the cheesy love lines.

Tonepoet

@JasperLoy I'll have to take your word for it.

curiousdannii

00:19

Alright, I'm surprised and unhappy that my last Meta post was downvoted meta.english.stackexchange.com/a/10032/59258

Jasper Loy

First, in math when we use the term sphere, we usually refer to the surface, that is the two-dimensional skin.

So why is Mr So and So saying that the sphere is three-dimensional?

And why is Mr So and So commenting using the word manifold if he knows that Mr So and So already is not familiar with the technical terminology?

Developable surface

In mathematics, a developable surface (or torse: archaic) is a surface with zero Gaussian curvature. That is, it is a surface that can be flattened onto a plane without distortion (i.e. "stretching" or "compressing"). Conversely, it is a surface which can be made by transforming a plane (i.e. "folding", "bending", "rolling", "cutting" and/or "gluing"). In three dimensions all developable surfaces are ruled surfaces (but not vice versa). There are developable surfaces in R4 which are not ruled. == Particulars == The developable surfaces which can be realized in three-dimensional space incl...

@Tonepoet The word flatten appears in the above article, LOL

@curiousdannii Don't be sad, it's just a small little downvote. =)

@Mitch Just desserts or just deserts? lol

englishstudent

10:12

@Mitch Or maybe Morris Lessmore.

@Tonepoet So, how many dictionaries do you own in total (paperbacks and hardcovers)?

I got. checks. Five in total.

@tchrist It happens to me too.

I'm getting old lel.

Tonepoet

12:21

@englishstudent I dunno. I buy them at the thrift store. I see at least three with the generic Webster branding. I also have Merriam Webster's New International Dictionary Second and Third editions, the Compact Oxford English Dictionary 1st ed. without the volume 3 supplement. The Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary 8th edition is around here somewhere. I have the American Heritage Dictionary first and third editions too

Oh and of course I can't forget the Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia. I spent a pretty penny on ebay for that.

englishstudent

12:33

@Tonepoet Ok. Good. I wish we had thrift stores like in US/Canada here as well. I can get second hand books, though, from stalls but only if I get lucky.

I never buy things on the internet, like Amazon etc.

At least not yet.

Tonepoet

Oh I also have several Random House Websters dictionaries. I forgot about those. The second unabridged edition is probably the more noteworthy of the two. There are some Webster's collegiate dictionaries too, which reminds me that I need to update an answer soon.

englishstudent

@Tonepoet I have its Collegiate version, Webster's Collegiate Dictionary. I bought it for. coverts to dollars. Like $10, 9 years ago, when I was very young.

It has been very useful. Useful especially when there is a power outage here or when I'm unable to use internet.

Tonepoet

That's actually vaguely lucky. Merriam-Webster's Collegiate dictionary hasn't been updated since the 11th edition over ten years ago, so in a strict sense, that's the most up to date version.

englishstudent

That's good to hear. Yay.

Tonepoet

Still, it's overdue for an update. On average they were releasing one every ten years in the 20th century.

englishstudent

12:45

You guys know a lot about literature, dictionaries and stuff. People can get free, up to date, first class and honest advice here anytime. :)

@Tonepoet I got my first paper back dictionary when I was like 10 years old from a friend. It was some edition of Oxford Dictionary for Children.

I lost its cover a long time ago. What remains is old pages.

Tonepoet

I suppose that is provisionally true. Nobody's going to want to answer a Gen. Ref. question on the main website unless you show us that you checked some of our recommended resources on the matter though.

englishstudent

What do you call in English the pages or parts in a book that bend on top and bottom from repetitive use?

Hm I think there is a word for it. I'm not remembering it.

Tonepoet

Dog-eared?

englishstudent

@Tonepoet Yes that exactly. But is there is a word for old dog eared?

Tonepoet

I'm not sure.

englishstudent

12:54

Like in a dilapidated book.

Ok. Thanks for the word though.

Meta-dictionaries are awesome too. Wordnik, Onelook etc.

I have never used a Historical and Dialectical Dictionary. I think it is for advanced users or for real enthusiasts.

Tonepoet

@englishstudent You might want to revisit the link I gave since I gave the wrong one the first time. I think we cover most of those.

englishstudent

Oh. Ok

That's a good link. I'm saving it on my computer (bookmarking).

terdon

13:26

2

englishstudent

13:37

@terdon terdon is that you playing guitar in your avatar picture?

terdon

Yes

englishstudent

Nice.

terdon

Thanks. I tend to move around a lot when playing :)

Mitch

14:26

@JasperLoy haha. nice. I didn't expect that.

@englishstudent Goldilocks is never comfortable around that guy

tchrist

14:39

slate.com/blogs/browbeat/2017/02/13/…

New breakthrough in word-origin hunting.

SmokeDetector