Discussions about eggcorns and related topics
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Chris -- 2025-05-10
“Deciduous†is the type of word you expect to spawn malapropisms of whatever type. A good many people think it is “diciduous†(6k ghits), probably with the notion of the prefix di- , though I don’t know what the “two†meaning has to do with it. (Undergoes two basic seasonal states, leaved/non-leaved?) Anyhow, my sister heard on the radio “dieciduous azaleasâ€, which might be a hypercorrective pronunciation of diciduous or a reanalysis of it. And I found a pretty clear example on the Internet:
Georgian mansion and the driveway way lined on both sides with huge dieciduous trees, the branches intertwining 40’ above the drive.
The notion of the tree or bush “dying†back every year seems pretty eggcornish to me.
(Perhaps “ciduous†means it happens stealthily, as in “inciduous�)
Last edited by DavidTuggy (2008-11-10 07:31:26)
*If the human mind were simple enough for us to understand,
we would be too simple-minded to understand it* .
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Oooh, insiduous trees—you know the ones w/ leaves that fall off.
no, no, you mean “deciduous”No, “deciduous,” that’s when when you aren’t wishy-washy.
no, no, that’s “decisive.”http://www.deepfun.com/2002/08/half-word-game.html
Seriously, I think this isn’t really an eggcorn. I think it’s just a big word nobody knows.
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I am flexible, you are wishy-washy, he flaps in the breeze. Ever play that game? I think I’ll post on it over at the slips & innovations part of the site.
*If the human mind were simple enough for us to understand,
we would be too simple-minded to understand it* .
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