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Chris -- 2025-05-10
Some restaurants are now describing caloric carpet bombing as serving up “indulgent†dishes to their customers. The traditions of entrepreneurial euphemism are alive and well.
The “in-“ of “indulgent†is probably an example of intensive “in-“ A common misspelling, “undulgent,†swings it toward the negating “in-.†Are these creative spellers trying to capture the hands-off, non-interfering, unrestraining approach of the indulgent? The lost – or better, never-found – radical “dulge†does feel like it ought to be associated with force and violence (“She dulged his eye out.â€)
Examples of “undulgent:â€
Newsletter: “Looking back and examing the past is an act that can feel very self-undulgent (who hasn’t been told at some point to ‘get over it’ or to ‘move on’). â€
Royal family gossip site: “ It won’t affect his undulgent world in any way, so why would it matter, unless of coourse he has “control” issues! â€
Web site of retail store: “For a perfect undulgent treat of a special celebration we offer you gourmet cupcakes with a luxurious selection of flavours … â€
Hatching new language, one eggcorn at a time.
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Undulgent sounds a bit like one of those contradictory switches. If it’s not an anticipation error, your take is the only one that makes sense. I’ll undulge you.
The opacity of dulging (even the etymology is unsettled) can lead to reinterpretation as a variant of intelligence, the opposite of it, even: indulligence. Admittedly, rare.
So charish your little victory with self-indulligence. The people of Novis will not let a defeat hinder our strength and pride.
Gamer
here was that group of students who thought they were cool and better than the rest. When it came to college the fraternities and sorieties took their place for self indulligence.
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Edit: As a victim of my own exceptional holiday indulgence this year, I looked for self-enbulgent. No joy.
Last edited by David Bird (2013-01-20 18:45:03)
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