[Top][All Lists]
[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Date Index][Thread Index]
RE: `set-variable' should use :set
From: |
Drew Adams |
Subject: |
RE: `set-variable' should use :set |
Date: |
Fri, 22 Oct 2010 06:40:20 -0700 |
> > ("Obsolete" is not a verb BTW (e.g. "obsoleted"),
>
> It is, according at least to
>
> - Free Merriam-Webster: http://mw1.m-w.com/dictionary/obsoleted
> - Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary:
> http://machaut.uchicago.edu/?resource=Webster%27s&word=obsolete
Oh, fun.
The first of those URLs claims that as a verb it is (only) transitive ("You
obsoleted the bike"). The second of those claims that as a verb it is (only)
intransitive ("You obsoleted, but the bike obsoleted first").
It is not an intransitive verb according to the first URL, and it is not a
transitive verb according to the second. Abracadabra, by Web dictionary
addition it is neither transitive nor intransitive - call it "interesting". ;-)
Anyway, if you're happy with "obsoleted" in the doc it's A OK by me. My remark
was parenthetical and qualified with a "BTW". IOW, it's beside the point.
And as I said (quite earnestly), you _can_ verb any noun. There is no Academie
Anglaise[*]; we take a different view of language (and dictionaries).
So please, manual any words you like, whether or not they can be successfully
dictionaried. A dictionary does not a word make - we make em.
http://www.socialmeteor.com/2009/09/02/facebook-a-verb-thats-whats-happenin/,
http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2008/jul/05/saturdayreviewsfeatres.guardianrevie
w, etc.
Most important is clarity, and I find "However, this feature is largely
obsoleted by `defcustom'" quite clear as far as it goes (it doesn't say why or
how).
My objection to it was a disagreement with what it claims, not how it makes the
claim. And I was clear that even that objection is minor - I find it only "a
bit" presumptuous to pretend that Customize replaces `set-variable'.
Customize obsoletes `set-variable' the same way stalking and killing your own
deer, cleaning it, transporting it, and stewing it obsoletes just grabbing a
bowl of venison stew at the hunting lodge. Customize is an adventure;
`set-variable' is sans drama.
But at least we've escaped the proposal, and without ever needing to proposal
the escape. ;-)
[* At least there was not an Acadamie Anglaise until this summer.
http://www.macmillandictionaryblog.com/lacademie-anglaise. Leave it to the
royals to stand up straight for such silliness - Rule Britannia! On n'arrete
pas le progres.]
- `set-variable' should use :set, Drew Adams, 2010/10/21
- Re: `set-variable' should use :set, Miles Bader, 2010/10/21
- Re: `set-variable' should use :set, Miles Bader, 2010/10/21
- RE: `set-variable' should use :set, Drew Adams, 2010/10/21
- RE: `set-variable' should use :set, Stephen J. Turnbull, 2010/10/21
- RE: `set-variable' should use :set, Drew Adams, 2010/10/22
- RE: `set-variable' should use :set, Stephen J. Turnbull, 2010/10/22
- Re: `set-variable' should use :set, David Kastrup, 2010/10/22
- Re: `set-variable' should use :set, Juanma Barranquero, 2010/10/22
- RE: `set-variable' should use :set,
Drew Adams <=
- Re: `set-variable' should use :set, David Kastrup, 2010/10/22
- Re: `set-variable' should use :set, Juanma Barranquero, 2010/10/22
- Re: `set-variable' should use :set, Stephen J. Turnbull, 2010/10/23
- RE: `set-variable' should use :set, Drew Adams, 2010/10/23
- Re: `set-variable' should use :set, Juanma Barranquero, 2010/10/23
- Re: `set-variable' should use :set, Glenn Morris, 2010/10/23
- Re: `set-variable' should use :set, Jambunathan K, 2010/10/23
- Re: `set-variable' should use :set, Chong Yidong, 2010/10/24
- Re: `set-variable' should use :set, Stefan Monnier, 2010/10/22
- RE: `set-variable' should use :set, Drew Adams, 2010/10/22