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Topic: English/Doubtful number (Read 1625 times) |
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maryl
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A little word of doubtful number, a foe to rest and peaceful slumber. If you add an "s" to this, great is the metamorphosis. Plural is plural now no more, and sweet what bitter was before. What am I?
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visitor
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Re: English/Doubtful number
« Reply #1 on: May 22nd, 2003, 7:02pm » |
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Who cares?
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Speaker
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Re: English/Doubtful number
« Reply #2 on: May 22nd, 2003, 10:37pm » |
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Those at my favorite charity
would find this treat no rarityale
not front but end the S do add
to make my lads all more so gladales
but if you like the market town
then S to front will bring no frownsale
sweet tis the point that took the time
forcing me to make this rhyme
my answer here entwined it be
but Maryl's answer thats yet to see
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They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. <Ben Franklin>
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maryl
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Re: English/Doubtful number
« Reply #3 on: May 23rd, 2003, 10:02am » |
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on May 22nd, 2003, 10:37pm, Speaker wrote:Those at my favorite charity
would find this treat no rarityale
not front but end the S do add
to make my lads all more so gladales
but if you like the market town
then S to front will bring no frownsale
sweet tis the point that took the time
forcing me to make this rhyme
my answer here entwined it be
but Maryl's answer thats yet to see |
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Speaker, loved your poem, but like the visitor said, who really cares.- caress
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Speaker
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Re: English/Doubtful number
« Reply #4 on: May 28th, 2003, 10:04pm » |
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I care.
I have deep personal feelings about the answer to this riddle, which is eluding me to no end. Maybe a little alluding on your part would preclude a personal crisis on my part.
Go on, allude. I dare you.
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They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. <Ben Franklin>
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maryl
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Re: English/Doubtful number
« Reply #5 on: May 29th, 2003, 12:28pm » |
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on May 28th, 2003, 10:04pm, Speaker wrote:I care.
I have deep personal feelings about the answer to this riddle, which is eluding me to no end. Maybe a little alluding on your part would preclude a personal crisis on my part.
Go on, allude. I dare you.
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Don't carry the weight of the world on your neck.
Instead, try a massage. It helps the fret.-(corny, I know)
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Speaker
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Re: English/Doubtful number
« Reply #6 on: May 29th, 2003, 6:50pm » |
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Okay, I tried that line of thought. But, couldn't get anything to work. It had me up all night. It left a bitter taste in my mouth.
I still don't get it. Woe is me. Swoe is me. Woes are whatever.
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They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. <Ben Franklin>
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visitor
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Re: English/Doubtful number
« Reply #7 on: May 30th, 2003, 6:52am » |
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Let me just say that my original comment was not as cold hearted as it sounded. And there was a very good reason why I hid it.
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maryl
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Re: English/Doubtful number
« Reply #8 on: May 30th, 2003, 7:26am » |
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1. It's a type of package you take to the needy-plus the s.
2. It's the name of a bar of soap-with the next s.
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wowbagger
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Re: English/Doubtful number
« Reply #9 on: May 30th, 2003, 8:10am » |
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I can only think of care .
However, I don't get the doubtful number, plural, sweet and bitter allusions. 
on May 30th, 2003, 7:26am, maryl wrote:| 2. It's the name of a bar of soap-with the next s. |
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That's not exactly a useful hint for us over here. 
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| « Last Edit: May 30th, 2003, 8:12am by wowbagger » |
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"You're a jerk, <your surname>!"
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maryl
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Re: English/Doubtful number
« Reply #10 on: May 30th, 2003, 1:00pm » |
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on May 30th, 2003, 8:10am, wowbagger wrote:I can only think of care .
However, I don't get the doubtful number, plural, sweet and bitter allusions.
That's not exactly a useful hint for us over here. |
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You're partly right Wowbagger, but it's the plural of that, sorry if the soap hint wasn't any help. The first part of the puzzle is plural, the second is not.
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| « Last Edit: May 30th, 2003, 1:04pm by maryl » |
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mistysakura
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Re: English/Doubtful number
« Reply #11 on: May 31st, 2003, 12:29am » |
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How on earth is cares bitter?
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visitor
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Re: English/Doubtful number
« Reply #12 on: May 31st, 2003, 7:40am » |
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In the plural the word is often used to express worries, sorrows, heavy responsibilities, especially when we're talking about the kind that are a foe to rest and peaceful slumber. On www.dictionary.com the first three definitions are:
A burdened state of mind, as that arising from heavy responsibilities; worry.
Mental suffering; grief.
An object or source of worry, attention, or solicitude: the many cares of a working parent.
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sprechen
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Re: English/Doubtful number
« Reply #13 on: Jun 1st, 2003, 12:50am » |
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And that is the rub...
I had care at the beginning, but couldn't get that next word.
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wowbagger
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Re: English/Doubtful number
« Reply #14 on: Jun 1st, 2003, 11:02am » |
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Thanks for the clarification, MaryL and visitor.
I think I now fully understand the riddle, and I like it. 
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"You're a jerk, <your surname>!"
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maryl
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Re: English/Doubtful number
« Reply #15 on: Jun 1st, 2003, 11:55am » |
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on Jun 1st, 2003, 11:02am, wowbagger wrote:Thanks for the clarification, MaryL and visitor.
I think I now fully understand the riddle, and I like it. |
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Glad to hear you liked it, I thought it was kind of cool too.
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Lupin
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Re: English/Doubtful number
« Reply #16 on: Jul 16th, 2003, 7:04am » |
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This riddle was originally written by George Canning (1770-1827) a British statesman who served for a very short period as Prime Minister of England. It was first published in “A Collection of Charades and Enigmas” in 1892, but it must be about two hundred years old.
“A word there is of plural number,
Foe to ease and tranquil slumber;
Any other word you take
And add an 'S' will plural make.
But if you add an 'S' to this,
So strange the metamorphosis;
Plural is plural now no more,
And sweet what bitter was before.”
Just to clarify the "doubdtful number" issue ... but then, again, who cares...
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| « Last Edit: Jul 16th, 2003, 7:09am by Lupin » |
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