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English is weird
LTK:
It is, but maybe not very commonly. My sister, who studies linguistics, didn't know what it meant.
Sorflakne:
--- Quote from: LTK on 11 Apr 2017, 09:41 ---Why is integer a noun, and not an adjective? Why don't we use it to describe a person with integrity?
--- End quote ---
Maybe I'm misunderstanding, but dn integer is a whole number, which can be positive, negative, or zero. Integrity is a whole different word, meaning high principle, morals, and honesty.
LTK:
Integrity comes from the Latin integritas, which derives from integer, meaning 'complete, perfect'. We also speak of the structural integrity of a building. It has entered into useage as an admirable character trait as well because it's such a good metaphor. See also: Upstanding, steadfast.
Wiktionary tells me that the adjective form is integrous, which I guess makes sense, but we just use integer.
Morituri:
'Integrous' specifically refers to structural integrity, personal integrity, etc.
Of numbers we use a different adjective form, 'integral' to describe numbers which are restricted so they can only be integers.
And of equations we use the adjective form 'integral' to state that two equations are related in a particular way - where the equations are usually in terms of non-integral (continuously varying) quantities.
Thus,
"The members of parliament in that nation are generally an integrous lot." - meaning they can usually be trusted.
"The state department is integral to our foreign policy." - meaning that without it our foreign policy is incomplete or incoherent.
"The number of nails in a house is integral" - meaning there are no fractional nails.
"The integral of X-squared is 2X-cubed-over-three." meaning the first expression is the derivative of the second.
Tova:
So, why is English so weird?
--- Quote ---English speakers know that their language is odd. So do people saddled with learning it non-natively. ... Why is our language so eccentric? Just what is this thing we’re speaking, and what happened to make it this way?
--- End quote ---
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