१४ ऑक्टोबर, २०२०

The tenacity — the nasty tenacity? — of the people of New York City?

The OED Word of the Day is "nyctinasty." Despite the enticing components — NYC and nasty and the faint whiff of tenacity — it's purely a botanical term: "The tendency of leaves or other parts of a plant to take up different positions at different times, usually in response to regular (esp. nightly) changes in light intensity or temperature. Also: a nyctinastic movement."
Certain leaves as well as flowers may fold up at night. These so-called ‘sleep movements’ of plants, brought about by the alternation of night and day, are the most common nasties and are termed nyctinasties.
Does the usage example jokingly extract the word "nasty"? I had to check! It turns out "nasty" is a botanical terms, meaning "A nastic movement." "Nastic" means "Of a plant movement: caused by an external influence that does not affect its direction." 

You'd think such a word would have taken up a figurative position by now, but if it has the OED hasn't yet taken note.

२३ टिप्पण्या:

Paul Zrimsek म्हणाले...

When my eyes first lit on the word I wanted to pronounce it "nice-to-nasty".

Mike of Snoqualmie म्हणाले...

Mazie Hirono has once again proven the old saw about stupidity: "Ignorance is fixable, stupidity is forever."

Goetz von Berlichingen म्हणाले...

I've always figured that the word 'nasty' derived from Thomas Nast, the political cartoonist. Never cared enough to confirm or debunk that belief.

tim maguire म्हणाले...

Like Paul, my initial reading was "nice-tinasty." Is a New Yorker's tenacity nice or nasty? Can be either, depending on how angry they are.

Static Ping म्हणाले...

Both words are now considered offensive. Please report to the nearest re-education facility.

Ralph L म्हणाले...

Mimosa leaves fold up at night. They're afraid of hooligans.

Laslo Spatula म्हणाले...

""The tendency of leaves or other parts of a plant to take up different positions at different times, usually in response to regular (esp. nightly) changes in light intensity or temperature..."

We must wait on Senator Hirano to know if discussing the plant's preferences is permissible or not.

I am Laslo.

Earnest Prole म्हणाले...

Nastastic adjective: something so nasty that it is fantastic; nasty + fantastic = nastastic.

Wilbur म्हणाले...

In the 34 years since I moved to South Florida and worked in Miami, I got a bellyful of our friends from New Yawk.

They're no more tenacious than anyone else, just louder and more presumptuous. Some are my good friend.

Lurker21 म्हणाले...


Is "nasty tenacity" an anagram for "cruel neutrality"?

Or just the next step down the slippery slope?

hstad म्हणाले...

LOL - "The tenacity — the nasty tenacity? — of the people of New York City?" Really? I lived in NYC for almost 10 years - if they are so full of "nasty tenacity" why are they running out at the first sign of violence? NYC people, are mostly all 'bluster', wouldn't stand a chance against a country person male or female. They are nothing but spoiled egotistical children - like most city folk - throughout the world. If anarchy ever succeeds [Mad Max type] city dwellers will be the first to disappear while country folk know how to protect themselves.

Maillard Reactionary म्हणाले...

Well I learned a new word today. Thanks!

I have noticed that my hybrid tea roses are most fragrant in the morning. Another example of the phenomenon, no doubt.

Maillard Reactionary म्हणाले...

Separately, who knew houseplants had a journal? I wonder if they've ever done a feature article on that well-known member of their cohort Mazie Hirono?

I suppose one could argue that she is technically a tropical plant, but however that may be, I hope that someone mists her every day.

Mike (MJB Wolf) म्हणाले...

As distinct from phototropic or xylotropic, which influence growth (so are excluded from nastic status). Xylos wrap around things, as many vines do. Cool. Nasty movements. I like that.

Mike (MJB Wolf) म्हणाले...

It’s just a tendency, Laslo, not a preference. When plants wilt in my presence shows a preference on their part perhaps. Who knows what nasty things they’re up to when they fold their petals in!

traditionalguy म्हणाले...

I have large capacity for nasty tenacity.

mikee म्हणाले...

I'm sticking with frabjous, to stay positive, and maybe using the more modern cromulent every once in a while for the enigmaticalness.

Achilles म्हणाले...

Portland Democrats attack a business of political opponent.

Yeah that whole peace thing if democrats win isn't going to fly.

The best thing you can hope for is that Trump wins and the democrats slink off to ignominy.

We will never let these people have power.

Maillard Reactionary म्हणाले...

Very runcible of you, mikee.

Narr म्हणाले...

Never trust those purple ones.

Narr
Especially in NYC

Howard म्हणाले...

Ilie Năstase

Lurker21 म्हणाले...

Houseplant Journal will probably be endorsing Joe Biden.

I think he was their Man of the Year and centerfold.

DEEBEE म्हणाले...

Would it’s meaning become offensive if ACB had a preference for it. Webster’s, are you listening?