The English Language

A section to discuss matters not related to Chess in particular.
soheil_hooshdaran
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Re: The English Language

Post by soheil_hooshdaran » Thu Feb 20, 2020 7:35 pm

David Sedgwick wrote:
Thu Feb 20, 2020 12:27 pm
soheil_hooshdaran wrote:
Thu Feb 20, 2020 8:00 am
Why would the 'chief' of the religion mean? what about 'head'?
There is very little difference, but it is perhaps a question of the extent of the person's influence

I would describe the Archbishop of Canterbury as the head of the Church of England. He doesn't have the same doctrinal authority as do the Pope and Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, both of whom might be described as chiefs.
But Khamenei's (political) authority is limited to Iran and (religiously) his followers, and never goes beyond this time. Khomeini's was more influential, as he was what can be translated as absolute scholar, the like of which appears maybe once in a century. Imams, and the four Caliphs were even more influential, as Islamic sects formed hinge upon their teachings. Muhammad(PBUH) was the most influential.

soheil_hooshdaran
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Joined: Tue Nov 05, 2013 5:24 pm

Re: The English Language

Post by soheil_hooshdaran » Thu Feb 20, 2020 8:25 pm

soheil_hooshdaran wrote:
Thu Feb 20, 2020 8:03 am
What is the difference between I "refuse" to give him a moment rest AND I "don't want" to give him a moment rest?
I meant when you refuse to do something, do you simply don't accept it when offered? Does it need to be offered at all?
Or do you think of it as something to be ashamed of?

John McKenna

Re: The English Language

Post by John McKenna » Thu Feb 20, 2020 9:21 pm

There's no question of 'shame' being involved in what you are asking. Neither is anything being 'offered'

To " refuse to allow him... " is a more emphatic way of saying (and doing) "I don't want to give him a moment's rest." (Note the need for a possessive 's at the end of 'moment'.)

soheil_hooshdaran
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Re: The English Language

Post by soheil_hooshdaran » Fri Feb 21, 2020 2:14 am

Thanks.
Another poem:

Any lust in the world
be it name, life, or gold

Each one is intoxicating
Missing it is hangovering

The hangovering is indicating
that the missed was intoxicating

Don't take from it more than your need
so it will not take over you indeed

John McKenna

Re: The English Language

Post by John McKenna » Fri Feb 21, 2020 8:54 am

Any lust in the world
Be it name, life, or gold

Each one is intoxicating
Missing it is hangovering

The hangovering is indicating
That the missed was intoxicating

Don't take from it more than your need
So it will not take over you indeed

That's quite good.

There's a famous movie called Lust for Life so, based on that, I'd say that it can be included - although it's not quite the same as the other two lusts.

"Hangovering" is a bit of a neologism.

I prefer a pithy ditty:

The lust for fame or riches,

Like a drunken stupor, misses

The point of intoxication -

To reach a state of sublimination

(Please drink and act responsibly.)

soheil_hooshdaran
Posts: 3148
Joined: Tue Nov 05, 2013 5:24 pm

Re: The English Language

Post by soheil_hooshdaran » Sat Feb 22, 2020 6:06 pm

Thanks. What about this?

'He said that lies are tremebles in heart
He said honesty placifies the heart

lie is never a heart pacifier
lying brings to the self no luster

In truth lies composure and tranquilment
the truth is for heart a beguilement

unless the heart is unfortunate, tasted bitterly
so it doesn't discern right and wrong, truly

John McKenna

Re: The English Language

Post by John McKenna » Sun Feb 23, 2020 10:40 am

He said that lies are trembles in the heart
He said honesty pacifies that part.

A lie is never a heart pacifier
Lying brings to the self no luster.

In truth lies composure and tranquillity
Truth sooths the heart irresistibly

Unless the heart is unfortunate and tastes bitterness
Then it cannot discern right and wrong, in truthfulness.

Is the best I can do.

'Beguilement' had to go because to beguile is not only to enchant it can also mean to deceive in a subtle way.

By the way, who is "He"?
Last edited by John McKenna on Tue Feb 25, 2020 10:45 am, edited 1 time in total.

soheil_hooshdaran
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Re: The English Language

Post by soheil_hooshdaran » Mon Feb 24, 2020 3:44 pm

The prophet Muhammad (PBUH)

Only the first two lines seem to be Hadith, though

John McKenna

Re: The English Language

Post by John McKenna » Tue Feb 25, 2020 10:47 am

Thank you for that illumination.

soheil_hooshdaran
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Re: The English Language

Post by soheil_hooshdaran » Fri Feb 28, 2020 5:41 am

What does it men to say
"The specter of Bd6 is too much to deal with."?

John McKenna

Re: The English Language

Post by John McKenna » Fri Feb 28, 2020 8:23 am

'Specter' is American English spelling - in British English the spelling is spectre. Other examples of this kind can be found, e.g. center and centre.

A spectre is a frightening apparition - such as a visible ghost that haunts and disturbs the mind of the viewer.

Therefore the threat of Bd6 is so frightening that the opponent simply has no way of dealing with it and presumably is going to lose because of it.

soheil_hooshdaran
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Joined: Tue Nov 05, 2013 5:24 pm

Re: The English Language

Post by soheil_hooshdaran » Fri Feb 28, 2020 7:51 pm

So it just means that its ghost is frightening?

John McKenna

Re: The English Language

Post by John McKenna » Fri Feb 28, 2020 8:25 pm

Not really, the ever-present threat of the move is so strong as to be impossible to meet. The 'specter' of that move is going to become a real monster and there's nothing that can be done to stop it.

(It's been a pleasure knowing you even at a distance Soheil Hooshdaran. Here endeth my English lessons.)

soheil_hooshdaran
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Re: The English Language

Post by soheil_hooshdaran » Fri Feb 28, 2020 10:14 pm

Nice to meet you too.

soheil_hooshdaran
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Joined: Tue Nov 05, 2013 5:24 pm

Re: The English Language

Post by soheil_hooshdaran » Mon Mar 09, 2020 5:26 am

The context is:
sometimes you will find that tide of battle has turned against you
Last edited by soheil_hooshdaran on Fri Mar 13, 2020 2:59 pm, edited 2 times in total.