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Chris -- 2018-04-11

#1 2021-03-26 11:14:26

kem
Eggcornista
From: Victoria, BC
Registered: 2007-08-28
Posts: 2872

elicit << explicit

I was reading a news story on the victoriabuzz site this morning and came across a caption on a video that said “this video contains elicit language.”

The writer meant “explicit language.” Perhaps just a word retrieval mistake. The confusion may be motivated by the verb-object combo “to elicit a response,” which is also about bringing hidden language into the light.

Not a lot of examples this mistake on the web. Here are some:

subsidy-published book: “cringing at the cacophony of elicit language.”

title of a web forum thread: “warning..contains elicit language.”

rules for submitting films to a website: “Films may not contain elicit language.”

a page fronting a one-act play compilation: “for adults audience members only as it does contain elicit language.”

a church movie rating site: “story lines laced with themes of lust, adultery anger and revenge, mixed with elicit language.”


Hatching new language, one eggcorn at a time.

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#2 2021-03-27 07:33:13

DavidTuggy
Eggcornista
From: Mexico
Registered: 2007-10-11
Posts: 2752
Website

Re: elicit << explicit

Illicit is likely involved as well. (Illiciting sex is relevant.) (It would be harder to find undeniable examples of “illicit language” < “explicit language”, and I haven’t tried much.)


*If the human mind were simple enough for us to understand,
we would be too simple-minded to understand it* .

(Possible Corollary: it is, and we are .)

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#3 2021-03-27 09:38:08

DavidTuggy
Eggcornista
From: Mexico
Registered: 2007-10-11
Posts: 2752
Website

Re: elicit << explicit

Maybe:

[avoid] excessive alcohol and drug use, be illicit about your intentions, make sure home is secure, carry alarm device, etc

Last edited by DavidTuggy (2021-03-27 19:06:48)


*If the human mind were simple enough for us to understand,
we would be too simple-minded to understand it* .

(Possible Corollary: it is, and we are .)

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