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April 13th, 2006, 12:21 PM
#1
Driver Terrier
So the plural of ethos is....?
I was asked what the plural of ethos is .... and I got stuck... Googling reveals nothing more than discussion and arguement..
Is ethos like information in that the same word it is used in the singular and in the plural?
Anyone have an authoratative reference?
Never, ever approach a computer saying or even thinking "I will just do this quickly."
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April 13th, 2006, 01:11 PM
#2
Registered User
Since ethos is used to describe the distinguishing character, sentiment, moral nature, or guiding beliefs of a person, group, or institution there can't be a plural..it encompasses the entire belief system, etc. not a single belief. A group can't have more than one distinguishing character, since distinguishing character encompasses all the individual bits that go to make up the distinguishing character. The only authoritative reference that i can give is that no dictionary I can find gives a plural or a plural use for the word.
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April 13th, 2006, 07:22 PM
#3
Originally Posted by geoscomp
Since ethos is used to describe the distinguishing character, sentiment, moral nature, or guiding beliefs of a person, group, or institution there can't be a plural..it encompasses the entire belief system, etc. not a single belief. A group can't have more than one distinguishing character, since distinguishing character encompasses all the individual bits that go to make up the distinguishing character. The only authoritative reference that i can give is that no dictionary I can find gives a plural or a plural use for the word.
I believe that you are right. The full OED lists no plural form. The Longman Dictionary of Comtemporary English lists it as a singular noun.
_____________________________________________
It is my pure and virtuous heart that
gives me the strength of ten!
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April 13th, 2006, 07:45 PM
#4
Intel Mod
Maybe the closest to a plural equivalent is ethics
Both ethos and ethic derive from the Greek ethos - "character"
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April 13th, 2006, 07:58 PM
#5
Registered User
But ethics can refer to a particular belief, and ethic is the singular, while ethos refers to a group of beliefs taken as a singular entity..not the same thing at all (liguistically speaking that is)
Last edited by geoscomp; April 13th, 2006 at 08:01 PM.
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April 14th, 2006, 04:46 AM
#6
Driver Terrier
Originally Posted by geoscomp
Since ethos is used to describe the distinguishing character, sentiment, moral nature, or guiding beliefs of a person, group, or institution there can't be a plural..it encompasses the entire belief system, etc. not a single belief. A group can't have more than one distinguishing character, since distinguishing character encompasses all the individual bits that go to make up the distinguishing character. The only authoritative reference that i can give is that no dictionary I can find gives a plural or a plural use for the word.
So if you have several groups, each displaying their own ethos... then you have to talk about each group? You cannot write or talk about the ethoses / ethoi of the groups? Interesting.
Never, ever approach a computer saying or even thinking "I will just do this quickly."
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April 14th, 2006, 04:58 AM
#7
Intel Mod
That's what we're stuck for, regardless of the actual implication of the word, when we want to use it in a sentence:
"The Greeks had a different ethos to the Romans, so let's compare the two... what? Ethoses? Is it still ethos for plural: "compare the two ethos."?
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April 14th, 2006, 05:38 AM
#8
Registered User
Originally Posted by Platypus
That's what we're stuck for, regardless of the actual implication of the word, when we want to use it in a sentence:
"The Greeks had a different ethos to the Romans, so let's compare the two... what? Ethoses? Is it still ethos for plural: "compare the two ethos."?
Or you could just cheat: "...so let's compare the two cultures."
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April 14th, 2006, 05:52 AM
#9
Intel Mod
Originally Posted by rgharper
Or you could just cheat: "...so let's compare the two cultures."
There are certainly ways around it, in my example you could just let it be understood: "lets compare the two."
It doesn't provide an answer to NooNoo's question though...
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April 14th, 2006, 06:35 AM
#10
Driver Terrier
Originally Posted by Platypus
There are certainly ways around it, in my example you could just let it be understood: "lets compare the two."
It doesn't provide an answer to NooNoo's question though...
You missed the apostrophe
Never, ever approach a computer saying or even thinking "I will just do this quickly."
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April 14th, 2006, 07:28 AM
#11
Intel Mod
Originally Posted by NooNoo
You missed the apostrophe
I'm so ashamed...
Laptop keyboard syndrome claims another victim...
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April 14th, 2006, 08:41 AM
#12
Registered User
Originally Posted by NooNoo
So if you have several groups, each displaying their own ethos... then you have to talk about each group? You cannot write or talk about the ethoses / ethoi of the groups? Interesting.
I'm thinking that sice the ethos is a grouping of things, you would have to compare each individual part to each individual part. (Besides, weren't the Ethoi those things in HG Wells Time Machine? )
Last edited by geoscomp; April 14th, 2006 at 09:05 AM.
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April 14th, 2006, 09:01 AM
#13
Driver Terrier
Never, ever approach a computer saying or even thinking "I will just do this quickly."
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April 14th, 2006, 09:04 AM
#14
Intel Mod
In Australia it's about wombats...
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April 14th, 2006, 10:07 AM
#15
Driver Terrier
Originally Posted by geoscomp
I'm thinking that sice the ethos is a grouping of things, you would have to compare each individual part to each individual part.
OK, but can an ethos be broken down into its parts? Isn't ethos a kind of gestalt?
Never, ever approach a computer saying or even thinking "I will just do this quickly."
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