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| Is "Supposebly" a word? (and others) Posted by tigerpawl I know there's a term for when someone inadvertently combines parts of 2 or more words - maybe with similar sounds and meanings - and creates a totally new word that has yet to hit the dictionaries.  on 4/28 at 1:50 pmExample: "Supposebly". I'm of he opinion that it's just not a word, but despite evidence to support this, there are others that insist it's a legitimate word (not talking slang here). I believe it to be the combination of the words "Supposedly" and "Presumably". It borrows the first 2 syllables of Supposedly and the last 2 syllables of Presumably. Ergo: "Supposebly". Plus the fact they both generally mean the same thing and are both "4 cylinder" words probably contributes to this phenomenon. It just makes me crazy to hear college graduates and professionals use this term!!! Maybe it's just me, but I find it to be mainly localized to the Metro New Orleans area.  My all-time favorite was when a guy was explaining the properties of motor oil. He was searching for "Viscosity", but he merged the words Viscosity + Velocity + Elasticity and blurted out "Velosticity"!! What is the term for this linguistic faux-pas and what are your favorite examples of this? Reply • Back to Top |
| Supposedly Reply • Back to Top |
| I believe it's called a portmanteau Reply • Back to Top |
| Dummies switched the "d" with the "b" and thus "supposebly" was born. Reply • Back to Top |
| This faux-pas is known as stupid. Reply • Back to Top |
quote: Reply • Back to Top |
| Here you go.... Reply • Back to Top |
| I think it might come down to how you decide to spell it. "Supposably" is recognized as an adverb. Might have answered my own question. This post was edited on 4/28 at 1:56 pm Reply • Back to Top |
| It's only a word in acadiana ETA: supposable and supposedly This post was edited on 4/28 at 1:58 pm Reply • Back to Top |
Awhile back a principal told the students that their break privileges were devoked. He didn't misspeak because he said it numerous times on multiple occasions. When he said it over the intercom later that day a student looked at me and said "that isn't a word is it?" I replied no it isn't, and he said "thats why I plan on going to LSU not Southern."  Reply • Back to Top |
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quote: The term you're searching for is "dumbass." Reply • Back to Top |
| A secretary for a friend of mine told him her camp burned down the night before. My friend asked her how she felt. She replied, "I'm just devescated". Reply • Back to Top |
| A portmanteau isn't a faux-pas, it's deliberate. I rather enjoy a clever portmanteau Reply • Back to Top |
| My favorite I came up with in high school is smuffocate. Combination of smother and suffocate. Reply • Back to Top |
quote: Your name doesn't rhyme with schmamy, does it? Reply • Back to Top |
| "Supposably" is indeed an adverb, meaning "capable of being supposed". It's not interchangeable with "supposedly", meaning "believed to be the case often without personal knowledge or proof" synonymous with "purportedly". Examples: Supposably, pigs may be able to fly. Meaning: It is possible that pigs being able to fly is correct. He supposedly got food poisoning yesterday, which is why he called in sick. Meaning: It is believed to be true that he got food poisoning yesterday, which is why he called in sick. ETA: I also often hear supposively and supposingly, which makes my skin crawl. This post was edited on 4/28 at 3:01 pm Reply • Back to Top |
quote: At least she wasn't just defecated. Reply • Back to Top |
quote: Still think the best mash up word I ever accidentally came up with was a mix between clearly and literally.... Cliterally. Reply • Back to Top |
| I told a few of these on here before, but I use to work with this lady who messed up all of her words. One day she was asking me about a friend of a friend's sister and said "she is doing good for herself, she is even the Crown Victorian of her class". A few Halloweens after 9/11 this lady was bringing her grandkids around and was talking about how she checks all the candy because people will put "amtracks" in the candy "these days". Reply • Back to Top • Refresh |
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