Words, usages, and phrases that annoy the shit out of you...

I want to be a destructive.

fey
adj \ˈfā\
Definition of FEY
1
a chiefly Scottish : fated to die : doomed b : marked by a foreboding of death or calamity
2
a : able to see into the future : visionary b : marked by an otherworldly air or attitude c : crazy, touched
3
a : excessively refined : precious b : quaintly unconventional : campy

yeah I've never seen "fey" used in the first or second contexts there

Morgana le Fey is probably the only one in any kind of common usage (though people probably think it's her surname.)

I don't understand what definition 3 has to do with definition 1 or 2, which are the ones I'm familiar with.

marked by an otherworldly air or attitude -> elven in a contrived manner (see, say Elfine from Cold Comfort Farm) -> Definition 3.

also see: Joanna Newsom

Yeah, I could see that. But my strong suspicion is that it's not as complicated as that. I'll bet that it evolved from people misusing language. Anyone have an OED account here?

xp

Fée is also 'fairy' in French.

the key word here is "evolved"

I don't understand what definition 3 has to do with definition 1 or 2, which are the ones I'm familiar with.

brit vs amer thing maybe? I've never heard of the 1st 2 usages.

Perhaps. It's not even a word that would come up much in conversation really, so it's hard to tell.

I've never heard of the 1st 2 usages.

Me neither.

Here's OED:

1. Fated to die, doomed to death; also, at the point of death; dying. In literary use now arch. Still in popular use in Scotland.

2. Leading to or presaging death; deadly, fatal. Obs.

3. Accursed, unfortunate, unlucky. Obs.

4. Feeble, timid; sickly, weak. Obs.

5. Disordered in mind like one about to die; possessing or displaying magical, fairylike, or unearthly qualities. Now freq. used ironically, in sense 'affected, whimsy'.

I'm mostly aware of it as the 2nd usage from the first def!! But that's primarily from reading fantasy lit for 20 years.

Pretty sure this isn't from people "misusing" language. Always thought fey acquired it's "twee" meaning via "Goblin Market" and general Victorian interest in whimsy.

'ilxor-looking dudes'

lol

Found this:

Fey derives from the Old English fæge (“doomed to die”) and carries the related sense “in an unusually excited state (like one about to die).” By an extension, the word came to mean “whimsical, otherworldly, eccentric,” perhaps from confusion with fay (= a fairy or elf). This shift in meaning was noticed as early as 1950. Today the word's original meaning is all but forgotten—e.g.: “An upsurge of book sales in cyberspace could have dramatic effects on the fortunes of the already fey and contradictory world of book publishing.” ( Washington Post, Aug. 4, 1997.)

That explanation is perfect Losrandfound. Thanks.

I don't understand what definition 3 has to do with definition 1 or 2, which are the ones I'm familiar with.

― kkvgz, Wednesday, November 10, 2010 2:39 AM (4 hours ago) Bookmark

I feel like there are tons of words in the language for which this is true

stool...implement for sitting on, or piece of shit?

*runs off to open your terrible ideas thread*

A lot of these are caused by two separate root-words converging in sound and spelling over time.

converge...to come together or shitty hardcore band?

stfu ... shut the fuck up or southern tenant farmers union?

Fare thee well. Fare thee well. Fare thee well, my fairy fay.
For I'm going to Louisiana for to see my Susiannah,
Singing polly-wolly-doodle all the day.

I feel like I know way too many people who will always half-smirkingly say "interweb" or "internets" instead of internet, or "uber" instead of super or very, etc.

"goodness" e.g. 'visit our website for more goodness'

^^^^^ yes, #1 for me

"_________ goodness"

kind of hate the genericness of this, like "ohh this pastry is filled with creamy goodness" or "oh yeah give me some of that football goodness"

― crüt it out (dyao), Saturday, June 26, 2010 5:59 PM (4 months ago) Bookmark

was about to complain about "genericness," but apparently it's a real word, which kind of blows my mind, i never would've guessed.

it really bugged me recently when someone used "sensical," though, that's definitely not a real word.

"chocolatey goodness"

"Turkey Day"

1. Fated to die, doomed to death; also, at the point of death; dying. In literary use now arch. Still in popular use in Scotland.

"Fey" guys doomed to reproductive failure, will die childless. Look at Morrissey.

i HATE "uber"

especially how its always used with "hip" and "cool"

"Killing it" meaning doing it well. Just shoot me at this point.

also "Really?" sarcastically/nonplussed a la Amy Poehler/Seth Meyers in their bit. ugh.

"ponder"

Turkey Day uuuuugh

http://www.theonion.com/articles/fey-rights-group-demands-distinction-from-homosexu,18606/

"Friend" to mean an inanimate object or activity that one considers beneficial, helpful, or pleasing. Especially annoying when the object/activity is in the plural, as in "Sore joints? Ice packs are your friend."

i HATE "uber"

― irritable bol syndrome (s1ocki), Thursday, 11 November 2010 23:11 (2 months ago) Bookmark Suggest Ban Permalink

especially how its always used with "hip" and "cool"

― irritable bol syndrome (s1ocki), Thursday, 11 November 2010 23:12 (2 months ago) Bookmark

I read the phrase "painfully hip" in an article the other day, that was actually praising said artist. A real cliche if I ever heard one.

said artist is annoying

"How's that workin' out for ya?"

People at my work say "sems" instead of centimetres. savages

"overcome by events"

have heard this 4-5 times this week already

When politician says about his state (or country) "XYZ is Open For Business". I just read something from the governor's office saying "New Jersey is Open For Business". First of all, it's stupid. Secondly, it's been used a ton, so if you're trying to be original and cute, you are failing miserably. Third, New Jersey is almost certainly not "open for business" unless you work in an unemployment office.

Acknowledging the public snub, a spokesman for the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills said: "Universities have always been bastions of free speech and debate.

"However, our student and university finance reforms are fairer than the present system and affordable for the nation."

BASTION

especially loathesome in this context cuz it suggests that universities are a sort of holdout of dissent whereas in this instance they express the will of most of the country