h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Well, isn't a chronic illness a long-term illness? I'd have thought it just meant it wasn't temporary.
From dictionary.com

'chron·ic ( P ) Pronunciation Key (krnk)
adj.
1 Of long duration; continuing: chronic money problems.
2 Lasting for a long period of time or marked by frequent recurrence, as certain diseases: chronic colitis.
3 Subject to a habit or pattern of behavior for a long time: a chronic liar. '

Meaning 1 or 2 would work.

hmm, yes, I see how that could work.
I guess it is just me being lazy and equating chronic to 'very bad', which is what I think when someone says 'chronic illness'. Sloppy thinking, ah well!

The opposite medical term is "acute" - which just means that it's a one-off. At least, that's the German medical word, I'm pretty sure it's the same in English. If not, one of the s here will soon be along to help.

It is the same in English medicine, with 'acute' having a meaning of short-term, and rapidly progressing.
However, I think in the average non-medical person's mind, the association is probably more along the lines of the wider-used sense of 'severe' or 'extreme'.

But technical language often gathers utterly erroneous associations. The news, speaking of court cases, sometimes mentions "forensic evidence" which is a redundancy. What they mean is scientific evidence, evidence from a forensic (=court) laboratory.

This is to let you know that rhynch and I have sorted things out - here on site but mainly via e-mail. We have agreed to disagree and I hope that you will all accept him here as he is eager to find things out which we might be able to help with, as well as offering a fresh and different angle on things which can't be a bad thing.

Thank you everyone for your support and comments.

Any Australian lurkers are welcome to come out into the open as it is obvious we don't have enough information about Australia on this site.



What is the etymology of forensic?

Thanks, TC.

Forensic means "to do with the courts" as far as I can remember. I'm trying to install a dictionary on my PC so I can look it up.

forensis is the Latin for public. Forensic details are ones which were a matter of public record. This came to mean "belonging to the courts" later on. Forensic science is the science of the courts. The meaning has changed slightly. We say "forensic evidence", meaning "scientific evidence" even though that should mean "legal evidence".

I have heard the plural for octopus as octopi and the more familiar octopuses, but have just been told as the word comes from Greek (not Latin)then it really should be octopodes; it actually has a nice ring about it(to my ear).

Speaking of "a nice ring about it", it pleases me (now that TC has issued her imprimatur) to contemplate an antipodean referring to an octopodean.
I do prefer "octopodes" but seldom get the opportunity to use the word, so I thank you.

octopodes, now that definitly is in the backlog somewhere, I remember that one!

"that definitly is in the backlog somewhere"

True, but we have been cautioned not to seem dismissive or superior with our déjà vu.

(Can't have any fun nowadays.)

On the other hand, the Edited Guide Entry A2818659 on Octopuses says that the correct plural is Octopuses. The guy that wrote that seems very sure of himself, so it must be true.

Very informative it is too( Edited Guide Entry A2818659 ). Blue Ringed octopuses(!) are quite common round my way. If you placed them in a pie could you, would you, call it an Octopie (apologies to Dr Seuss)

That's good news, Trillian's Child...

Odtopie, tee hee!

OCTopie! (Typo, sorry.)

Ring a ring a rosies
Some blue ringed octopodes
Ouchie Ouchie
We all fall down

I think you need a third Ouchie

The normal third line is "Asha, Asha".