Welcome to DU!
The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards.
Join the community:
Create a free account
Support DU (and get rid of ads!):
Become a Star Member
Latest Breaking News
General Discussion
The DU Lounge
All Forums
Issue Forums
Culture Forums
Alliance Forums
Region Forums
Support Forums
Help & Search
Vegetarian, Vegan and Animal Rights
In reply to the discussion: Do Vegans Care More About Animals Than People? [View all]Binkie The Clown
(7,911 posts)19. Terrific is horrible!
Terrific: 1667, "frightening," from L. terrificus "causing terror or fear," from terrere "fill with fear" (see terrible) + root of facere "to make" (see factitious). Weakened sensed of "very great, severe" (e.g. terrific headache) appeared 1809; colloquial sense of "excellent" began 1888.
First use is not the permanent meaning. Language is fluid.
Fortunately English does not have a ruling body that declares ex cathedra what a word must mean. And because of this, words shift and change as time goes on. It doesn't much matter what the originator of a coinage had in mind as the definition, but in this case the author clearly wanted a word to define a diet:
We should all consider carefully what our Group, and our magazine, and ourselves, shall be called. 'Non-dairy' has become established as a generally understood colloquialism, but like 'non-lacto' it is too negative. Moreover it does not imply that we are opposed to the use of eggs as food. We need a name that suggests what we do eat, and if possible one that conveys the idea that even with all animal foods taboo, Nature still offers us a bewildering assortment from which to choose. 'Vegetarian' and 'Fruitarian' are already associated with societies that allow the 'fruits'(!) of cows and fowls, therefore it seems we must make a new and appropriate word. As this first issue of our periodical had to be named, I have used the title "The Vegan News". Should we adopt this, our diet will soon become known as a VEGAN diet, and we should aspire to the rank of VEGANS.
So I'm glad we finally settled that. "Vegan" refers to diet, and many vegans ALSO base their diet on moral grounds and exclude all animal products. However, that aspect of veganism was not expressly mentioned in the "Wanted - A Name" paragraph quoted above, and is not a necessary feature of "veganism".
Edit history
Please sign in to view edit histories.
26 replies
= new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight:
NoneDon't highlight anything
5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
RecommendedHighlight replies with 5 or more recommendations
Let me see. Miriam Webster, respected authority vs a complete stranger's own definition...
Binkie The Clown
Dec 2015
#13
Websters, and most of the other authorities are just saying: yes it is. n/t end of discussion.
Binkie The Clown
Dec 2015
#15
As the word was coined in living memory and the first printed usage is available, we know the answer
LeftyMom
Jan 2016
#18
I'm not wrong and you're not wrong. You are a prescripitivist and and I am a descriptivist.
Binkie The Clown
Jan 2016
#23
Yes. Done. You still don't get it, and I'm through trying to explain it to you. n/t
Binkie The Clown
Jan 2016
#25
I'm a vegan and I happily roasted a turkey for the Family Christmas gathering.
Binkie The Clown
Dec 2015
#17