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submitted 6 months ago by Agent641@lemmy.world to c/memes@lemmy.world
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[-] kakes@sh.itjust.works 6 points 6 months ago* (last edited 6 months ago)

[Edit- I'm blind, the definition I give below does include injury. However, I stand by the fact the word has changed over time, and there is at least some value in following the "old" definition.]

Per Merriam-Webster:
1: to kill or severely injure by electric shock
2: to execute (a criminal) by electricity

Now, granted, because the word is used often enough to mean "shocked", there is a "descriptivist" argument to be made that we should accept the new definition (like "literally" meaning "not literally").

While I'm generally in favour of this approach, I think the distinction here being literally life-and-death (especially when used in a workplace context) warrants some push-back against this new definition.

That said, English doesn't have language police, so you're more than free to disagree with my take, haha.

[-] Default_Defect@midwest.social 7 points 6 months ago

I'm a big fan of words being used wrong so often that they change meaning. Glad my education was largely useless.

[-] kakes@sh.itjust.works 2 points 6 months ago

Tbf, education isn't a thing that ever ends, just gotta learn the new definitions is all.

[-] Kolanaki@yiffit.net 4 points 6 months ago* (last edited 6 months ago)

The definition does include mere injury. Though it does add the qualifier "severely" so now I need to know how that dictionary defines "severe."

Also: The Internet has proven for years that the Language Police exist for all languages. Though they're more like gestapo. Hence the moniker "Grammar Nazi." ๐Ÿ˜Œ

[-] kakes@sh.itjust.works 3 points 6 months ago

Oh shoot, you're totally right! I'll admit I skimmed - thank you for calling me out on that.

I'll still stand by the fact the definition has changed over time, but I can't really argue much of anything after such a big fuckup lmao.

[-] Kolanaki@yiffit.net 3 points 6 months ago

I just find it interesting because I saw a video on this exact definition the other day, being pedantic about electrocution specifically meaning death. It must have been like the definition for "literally" where because of its usage, now includes the definition of "figuratively."

[-] Malfeasant@lemmy.world 2 points 6 months ago

This is why we base scientific words on Latin - dead language doesn't change.

this post was submitted on 11 May 2024
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