Mimsy were the Borogoves - why is "mimsy" an adjective?
Nov 8, 2016 · The borogoves were all mimsy but it's possible to invert the order and put the adjectival complement all mimsy first, i.e., to have the order Predicate-Complement Copulative …
etymology - Origin of "gimble", "brillig" - English Language
Oct 3, 2014 · All mimsy were the borogoves, And the mome raths outgrabe.' But he goes on to explain the meanings: And what's to "gyre" and to "gimble"?' 'To "gyre" is to go round and …
Now and forever - English Language & Usage Stack Exchange
Feb 2, 2011 · "Now and forever" is a common phrase. This sentence is supposed to be witty, specifically because the "now and forever" part does not fit the reader's expectations of what …
philosophy - English Language & Usage Stack Exchange
Pay no attention. This is a philosopher speculating about language without any clear idea of how it works. Clearly he subscribes to the Conduit Metaphor and doesn't distinguish language from …
expressions - English Language & Usage Stack Exchange
Oct 29, 2015 · In the 1942 book Mimsy Were the Borogoves an adult character (Holloway) describes a new kind of skill from the future which two child characters (Scott and Emma) are …
sentence - English Language & Usage Stack Exchange
Jul 8, 2018 · This is a question of style, not grammar. Grammar doesn't require you do anything to demarcate the word. Look at all the words Lewis Carroll invented, for example: 'Twas brillig, …
How do you call a word that is the result of merging two words?
Dec 27, 2016 · The word is portmanteau. It originally (and still) means a large suitcase. In through the Looking Glass, Lewis Carroll introduced a second meaning: a word or morpheme whose …
Can we use "whisky" to describe a squirrel going up a tree?
Dec 24, 2018 · All mimsy were the borogoves, And the mome raths outgrabe. This is complete nonsense, but it sounds like English and "feels" right to a reader. Just based on the sounds …
Is the word 'outside' a preposition or a noun in this context?
Dec 30, 2017 · All mimsy were the borogoves, And the mome raths outgrabe. It sounds like you think that a word “is” some part of speech, and that it can therefore “turn” into another one. …
Is there a single word for date of death?
Apr 18, 2014 · Deathday was popularized by J. K. Rowling via Nicholas de Mimsy-Porpinton, aka Nearly Headless Nick. In the Chamber of Secrets novel, Nick invites Harry Potter and his …