Enormity

[Deleted]

OK, here we go.
This word "enormity" is being used all the time, especially by sports commentators, but even in the latest Harry Potter.

Now, who can give me a correct definition, without consulting a dictionary!
Be interesting for everyone to post their understanding of the word without any reference as well (no dictionary, Google, etc.).

1st correct answer, who can prove they did not use a dictionary - at this point in time - wins a 1 month place in my BSF signature.

[schumi]

bigeddie said:

wins a 1 month place in my BSF signature.

Christ, did I lose my place already?

[Deleted]

How can we prove that?

[donsking]

The prize prevents me from answering, I don't want to be immortalised there for the next month!

[Deleted]

schumi said:

bigeddie said:

wins a 1 month place in my BSF signature.

Christ, did I lose my place already?

No Schumi, you are close to a permanent fixture in my sig.
By Christ I was fast though!

[Deleted]

ssamyarse said:

How can we prove that?

I don't know.
Maybe a story to back up where your knowledge came from?
Actually, I'm going to revise the post...

Most people will have it from a dictionary, but what I am looking for is people's definitions - as they understand it.

[donsking]

I suspect most people will think it just means something really big, but it's actually more like being hugely wicked or committing an incredible crime, just another example of a word drifting into common use and out of context, and our beautiful language doing what it's always done, moved, flowed and adapted to it's time.

[admin]

In spite of the enormity of the question and the enormity of the prize, I couldn't give a fuck.

[Deleted]

donsking said:

I suspect most people will think it just means something really big, but it's actually more like being hugely wicked or committing an incredible crime, just another example of a word drifting into common use and out of context, and our beautiful language doing what it's always done, moved, flowed and adapted to it's time.

Close, and acceptable.
Tell me how you know this and you might be in with a shout.

[Deleted]

admin said:

In spite of the enormity of the question and the enormity of the prize, I couldn't give a fuck.

Interesting that you begin with "In spite...".

I couldn't give a fuck until I started to hear it being used every 5 fucking minutes in the wrong context.

It's like saying Jac Rempala is unusual as opposed to just plain weird.

[admin]

bigeddie said:

It's like saying Jac Rempala is unusual as opposed to just plain weird.

Ah, but around here Jacek Rempala is a deity and deities can't be something as mundane as unusual, they have to be weird.

[donsking]

bigeddie said:

donsking said:

I suspect most people will think it just means something really big, but it's actually more like being hugely wicked or committing an incredible crime, just another example of a word drifting into common use and out of context, and our beautiful language doing what it's always done, moved, flowed and adapted to it's time.

Close, and acceptable.
Tell me how you know this and you might be in with a shout.

I would hope it's more than just close, having now checked it's pretty much the dictionary definition of the word!

How do I know?

I'm not a walking OED, but the English language is one of my true loves; I made a point of studying Latin in order to understand it's etymology a little better, and I got an 'A' in English language 'O' Level at 13.

My particular speciality is slang, but that's probably because I was brought up in an area rich in it.

[Deleted]

admin said:

bigeddie said:

It's like saying Jac Rempala is unusual as opposed to just plain weird.

Ah, but around here Jacek Rempala is a deity and deities can't be something as mundane as unusual, they have to be weird.

Of course

[Deleted]

donsking said:

bigeddie said:

Close, and acceptable.
Tell me how you know this and you might be in with a shout.

I would hope it's more than just close, having now checked it's pretty much the dictionary definition of the word!

How do I know?

I'm not a walking OED, but the English language is one of my true loves; I made a point of studying Latin in order to understand it's etymology a little better, and I got an 'A' in English language 'O' Level at 13.

My particular speciality is slang, but that's probably because I was brought up in an area rich in it.

It's close to the OED, it seems to have a somewhat milder definition that the one that I knew that of something being "monstrously wicked".

But, the OED seems to have accepted that it can now be used to mean the same as enormous! All because of a load of T.V. "personalities" mis-using the word.

I mean, for the love of fuck, let's just change the meaning of some other words while we're at it.

Donsking wins the prize. ;D

[donsking]

Thanks, but can you raffle it or something?!

Interesting phrase that, by the way, 'for the love of fuck'; there are a few different explanations of the word fuck, but one of the more excepted ones you wouldn't love at all!