Re: Re: Cleaning! Dictionaries...

[Guest guest]

Aha!! Sue - just the person ... is one of the dictionaries an American

one? I would love to know how the useage of 'closet' started instead

of 'wardrobe or cupboard' - though really you might have thought

cupboard evolved from something like a dresser where your cups are on

the shelf....? you guessed it, I subscribed .... am fascinated by

all the lovely different words for things...

Caro

We also

> inherited my MIL's dictionary collection when she died last year -

it

> takes up virtually all our minimal book shelving.

>

[Guest guest]

> is one of the dictionaries

>an American

>one? I would love to know how the useage of 'closet'

>started instead

>of 'wardrobe or cupboard'

A closet is generally built into the wall in the US and

usually one that is as tall as you are (if you get my

meaning). A wardrobe is a free-standing one. A cupboard is

usually a smaller thing, like in your kitchen.

HTH,

Phyllis (no dictionary, only my vague brain)

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

>Aha!! Sue - just the person ... is one of the dictionaries an American

>one? I would love to know how the useage of 'closet' started instead

>of 'wardrobe or cupboard'

From Unabridged Websters:

clos'et n. (Middle English closet; Old French closet a small enclosure,

dim. of clos, an enclosed place)

1. a small room for retirement; any room for privacy; as, a dressing

closet

2. a small room or cupboard for depositing or storing articles; as, a

china closet, a clothes closet

3. a privy; a water closet

4. a king's private room for prayer or consultation

5. in heraldry a diminutive of the bar, hving one half of its width.

HTH.

We have an NZ sign language dictionary (came in very handy when we

wanted something unusual for 'Letter of the Week' - scanned the sign Z

and sent that in! MIL trained to teach deaf children many years ago

although she taught mainstream primary school children when she returned

to work after having her own family.

A dictionary of place names published in London in 1688 which we bought

for her. Guess who sat there for ages looking to see if I'd find her

town in NZ listed...... DOH!

Lefthanded dictionary; one of Contemporary slang and one for vulgar

expressions; idioms; religion, philosophy, politics and law; reverse;

phrase and fable; euphemisms etc!

And that's just what I can see with a quick turn of the head.

--

Sue

[Guest guest]

So a closet must be a close it!

Caro

>

> A closet is generally built into the wall in the US and

> usually one that is as tall as you are (if you get my

> meaning). A wardrobe is a free-standing one. A cupboard is

> usually a smaller thing, like in your kitchen.

>

> HTH,

> Phyllis (no dictionary, only my vague brain)

>