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#270735 - Wed Jun 29 2005 06:40 AM Avuncular
ozzz2002 Moderator Registered: Mon Dec 03 2001 Posts: 20912 Loc: Sydney NSW Australia	I have been challenged to find the feminine version of the word 'avuncular', which means 'relating to an uncle'. Does anyone know if such a word exists, and if so, what it is? _________________________ The key to everything is patience. You get the chicken by hatching the egg, not smashing it. Ex-Editor, Hobbies and Sports, and Forum Moderator
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#270736 - Wed Jun 29 2005 07:08 AM Re: Avuncular
JuniorTheJaws Forum Champion Registered: Sun Sep 09 2001 Posts: 5400 Loc: South Philadelphia PA USA	Found this link, that may help you Greg: http://www.lunisea.com/school/archives/00000255.html "06/13/2004 Posted @ 11:05 PM PD/ST: "Now I Know the Answer" Write to the Editor and I don't like it, but the English language being what it is ... For years I've wondered what the feminine form of "avuncular" is. If avuncular is to be "like an uncle," what is the word for being "like an aunt?" The Columbia Guide to Standard English has this answer ... there is no feminine version. Harumph!" --------- Agnes (JTJ) _________________________ Agnes (JTJ) *"Whoever said, "Diamonds are a girl's best friend", never had a dog." --Anonymous*
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#270737 - Wed Jun 29 2005 07:18 AM Re: Avuncular
TabbyTom Moderator Registered: Wed Oct 17 2001 Posts: 8479 Loc: Hastings Sussex England UK	The Oxford English Dictionary has materteral and materterine, both derived from the Latin matertera (maternal aunt), and described as "humorously pedantic"; for "characterstic of an aunt". There are two quotations : With maternal and materteral anxiety (1823) and A kindly materterine message (1874). _________________________ Dilige et quod vis fac
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#270738 - Wed Jun 29 2005 07:18 AM Re: Avuncular
JuniorTheJaws Forum Champion Registered: Sun Sep 09 2001 Posts: 5400 Loc: South Philadelphia PA USA	Hold on Greg! Found this! Aunt - Wiktionary - Your grandparent's sister or brother's wife (also known as a great aunt or grandaunt). ... obasan); Latin: amita (paternal aunt), matertera (maternal aunt) And this Latin: amita (paternal aunt), matertera (maternal aunt) Noun amita f Paternal aunt nominative plural and genitive singular amitae genitive plural amitarum Retrieved from "http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Amita" matertera (nominative plural and genitive singular materterae) genitive plural materterarum) ------- Agnes (JTJ) Edited by JuniorTheJaws (Wed Jun 29 2005 07:22 AM) _________________________ Agnes (JTJ) *"Whoever said, "Diamonds are a girl's best friend", never had a dog." --Anonymous*
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#270739 - Wed Jun 29 2005 08:00 AM Re: Avuncular
ozzz2002 Moderator Registered: Mon Dec 03 2001 Posts: 20912 Loc: Sydney NSW Australia	Wow! Thanks, lady and gent! Once again, FT members show their fettle...
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#270740 - Thu Jun 30 2005 11:30 AM Re: Avuncular
fjohn Multiloquent Registered: Mon Dec 06 1999 Posts: 2742 Loc: Wyoming USA Way Out West	Why don't you coin a new word, "avauntular." Or is that too close to 'avaunt,' meaning to begone! go away! Is it reduntant to say I have an avuncular uncle? _________________________ Some days it just doesn't seem worth trying to chew through the restraints.
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#270741 - Thu Jun 30 2005 07:35 PM Re: Avuncular
Shrivats Enthusiast Registered: Wed Jun 30 2004 Posts: 463 Loc: Dubai, UAE	Not exactly redundant, more like tautology. (9 am this morning) _________________________ Life is like Pi, natural, irrational, infinite, and very important.
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