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Subject:Re: Our language From:Peter Brown <pbrown -at- MKS -dot- COM> Date:Tue, 13 May 1997 09:25:34 -0400
John Glenn wrote:
>
> In a recent post, it was written that something was
> ''invaluable.''
> While the poster's English is correct (no flame, this), the
> ENGLISH rings false - INvaluable? Why not ''valuable?''
... rest deleted
> John Glenn <sfarmh1 -at- scfn -dot- thpl -dot- lib -dot- fl -dot- us>
Parse "valuable" for its original or literal sense and you get "able to
be valued". Thus, "invaluable" describes something to which you cannot
assign a value, worth so much that its worth is incalculable.
The synonym "priceless" explains it well. Worth so much, you cannot put
a price upon it.
--
---------------------------------------------------------------
"Opinions? I've had a few. But then again, too few to mention."
Peter Brown, Technical Writer (pbrown -at- mks -dot- com)
Mortice Kern Systems Inc. (http://www.mks.com)
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