| Welcome Guest | Forum Search | Active Topics | Members | Log In | Register | |
|
|
Rank: Advanced Member
Joined: 3/7/2009
Posts: 6,888
Points: 19,932
Location: Inside Farlex computers
|
gristly(adjective) Difficult to chew. Synonyms: cartilaginous, rubberyUsage: After several minutes of trying to break down the gristly piece of steak, I gave up and discreetly spat it into my napkin.
|
|
Rank: Advanced Member
Joined: 1/18/2011
Posts: 1,455
Points: 3,524
Location: United States
|
Censorship is not only gristly, but also leads to dysphagia.
dys·pha·gia (ds-fj) or dys·pha·gy (dsf-j)
n.
Difficulty in swallowing or inability to swallow. Also called aglutition, aphagia, odynophagia.
dys·phagic (-fjk) adj.
The American Heritage® Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2007, 2004 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
|
|
Rank: Newbie
Joined: 3/24/2009
Posts: 12
Points: 36
Location: United States
|
"After several minutes of trying to break down the gristly piece of steak, I gave up and discretely spat it into my napkin."
Had the writer been able to break the steak into DISCRETE parts, he would not have had to spit it out. The word is discreet.
|
|
Rank: Advanced Member
Joined: 1/18/2011
Posts: 1,455
Points: 3,524
Location: United States
|
Congratulations on catching the classic error, MEFreshwater. TFD should publish a correction. If you search with the usage sentence online you will find The Free Dictionary Word of the Day is discussed by any number of English education sites which may or may not follow the discussion on TFD and spot the blunder. The words are on Wikipedia's List of commonly misused English words. For an analysis of the distinction between discrete and discreet including their common ancestry see http://www.dailywritingtips.com/the-difference-between-discreet-and-discrete/
|
|
Rank: Administration
Joined: 4/7/2009
Posts: 98
Points: 297
Location: United States
|
Good eyes! Duly noted.
|
|
|
Guest |