51吃瓜 of the Day
whataboutism
noun
a conversational tactic in which a person responds to an argument or attack by changing the subject to focus on someone else鈥檚 misconduct, implying that all criticism is invalid because no one is completely blameless: Excusing your mistakes with whataboutism is not the same as defending your record.
More about whataboutism
Whataboutism is a transparent formation of the phrase 鈥淲hat about鈥�?鈥� used to form objections in an argument, and the noun suffix –ism. Whataboutism entered English in the second half of the 20th century.
how is whataboutism used?
Whataboutism appears to broaden context, to offer a counterpoint, when really it鈥檚 diverting blame, muddying the waters and confusing … rational listeners.
The best response to whataboutism has historically been to say that while, yes, other countries have their faults, injustice should not be tolerated anywhere.
More about consent
In English, the verb sense of consent is recorded considerably earlier than the noun. Consent ultimately derives from the Latin verb 肠辞苍蝉别苍迟墨谤别 鈥渢o share or join in a sensation or feeling, be in unison or harmony.鈥� 颁辞苍蝉别苍迟墨谤别 is a compound of the Latin prefix con-, a variant of com– 鈥渢ogether, with.鈥� The Latin verb 蝉别苍迟墨谤别 has many meanings: 鈥渢o perceive by any of the senses, feel, be aware of, recognize, discern, hold an opinion, think, cast a vote, give a verdict.鈥� The many English derivatives of the Latin verb include assent, consent, resent, sense, sentence, sentient, and sentiment. The verb senses of consent entered English in the 13th century, the noun in the second half of the 14th.
how is consent used?
Before you even put your cookie on my computer, or in my mobile device, you have to make sure I consent to being followed ….
If she consents to assist the experiment, she consents of her own free will ….
expatiate
verb
to move or wander about intellectually, imaginatively, etc., without restraint.
More about expatiate
The English verb expatiate comes from Latin 别虫辫补迟颈腻迟耻蝉, 别虫蝉辫补迟颈腻迟耻蝉, past participle of 别虫辫补迟颈腻谤墨, 别虫蝉辫补迟颈腻谤墨 鈥渢o move, run, or flow away beyond bounds, spread out,鈥� a compound of the prefix ex– 鈥渙ut of, throughout鈥� and the verb 蝉辫补迟颈腻谤墨 鈥渢o walk about leisurely, stroll鈥� (and the source of German spazieren 鈥渢o take a walk, stroll鈥�). 厂辫补迟颈腻谤墨 is a derivative of the noun spatium 鈥渆xpanse of ground, area, space, racetrack, playing field, act (of a play).鈥� Expatiate entered English in the 16th century.
how is expatiate used?
… at every step of this mental process, sufficient time must be allowed for the imagination to expatiate on the objects before it, till the ideas approximate, as near as possible, to the reality.
He was troubled too about his love, though when he allowed his mind to expatiate on the success of the great railway he would venture to hope that on that side his life might perhaps be blessed.