What does a native speaker imagine when hearing “lunatic cat”?
2
- Is "lunatic cat" like "crazy cat" or "it's nonsense, they don't say so", or something else?
- According to https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/lunatic there is a connection to the moon (see "origin"). Could native speaker imagine "lunatic cat" as "moon cat"?
meaning etymology connotation
edited 2 days ago
DJClayworth
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Vlad BokovVlad Bokov
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2
- Is "lunatic cat" like "crazy cat" or "it's nonsense, they don't say so", or something else?
- According to https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/lunatic there is a connection to the moon (see "origin"). Could native speaker imagine "lunatic cat" as "moon cat"?
meaning etymology connotation
edited 2 days ago
DJClayworth
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asked 2 days ago
Vlad BokovVlad Bokov
132
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2
A "moon cat" would probably called a lunar cat.
– Cascabel
2 days ago
Using cat standards, I'd consider it to be "normal".
– Hot Licks
yesterday
add a comment |
2
2
2
1
- Is "lunatic cat" like "crazy cat" or "it's nonsense, they don't say so", or something else?
- According to https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/lunatic there is a connection to the moon (see "origin"). Could native speaker imagine "lunatic cat" as "moon cat"?
meaning etymology connotation
edited 2 days ago
DJClayworth
9,5861929
asked 2 days ago
Vlad BokovVlad Bokov
132
New contributor
Vlad Bokov is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
- Is "lunatic cat" like "crazy cat" or "it's nonsense, they don't say so", or something else?
- According to https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/lunatic there is a connection to the moon (see "origin"). Could native speaker imagine "lunatic cat" as "moon cat"?
meaning etymology connotation
meaning etymology connotation
edited 2 days ago
DJClayworth
9,5861929
asked 2 days ago
Vlad BokovVlad Bokov
132
New contributor
Vlad Bokov is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
edited 2 days ago
DJClayworth
9,5861929
asked 2 days ago
Vlad BokovVlad Bokov
132
New contributor
Vlad Bokov is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
edited 2 days ago
DJClayworth
9,5861929
edited 2 days ago
DJClayworth
9,5861929
edited 2 days ago
DJClayworth
9,5861929
9,5861929
asked 2 days ago
Vlad BokovVlad Bokov
132
New contributor
Vlad Bokov is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
asked 2 days ago
Vlad BokovVlad Bokov
132
asked 2 days ago
Vlad BokovVlad Bokov
132
132
New contributor
Vlad Bokov is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
New contributor
Vlad Bokov is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
Vlad Bokov is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
2
A "moon cat" would probably called a lunar cat.
– Cascabel
2 days ago
Using cat standards, I'd consider it to be "normal".
– Hot Licks
yesterday
add a comment |
2
A "moon cat" would probably called a lunar cat.
– Cascabel
2 days ago
Using cat standards, I'd consider it to be "normal".
– Hot Licks
yesterday
2
2
A "moon cat" would probably called a lunar cat.
– Cascabel
2 days ago
A "moon cat" would probably called a lunar cat.
– Cascabel
2 days ago
Using cat standards, I'd consider it to be "normal".
– Hot Licks
yesterday
Using cat standards, I'd consider it to be "normal".
– Hot Licks
yesterday
add a comment |
1 Answer
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6
There is only one modern adjectival meaning of 'lunatic' and it is:
- "silly in a dangerous way", or "wildly foolish"
There is an old meaning of "mentally ill", but the term would never be used of someone actually mentally ill today. 'crazy' would be a good synonym.
So a 'lunatic cat' would be a cat that behaved dangerously, or 'wildly foolishly'.
The etymology does derive from 'lunar' for the moon, but the modern meanings do not relate to the moon. The adjective for 'of or pertaining to the moon' would be 'lunar'.
answered 2 days ago
DJClayworthDJClayworth
9,5861929
2
Or to answer the OP directly, no, 'lunatic' evokes nothing about the moon to a modern speaker.
– Mitch
2 days ago
ok, then how offensive sounds "lunatic" (meaning "silly in a dangerous way")? could a person be offended if named so? could a cat owner be offended if his cat is named so?
– Vlad Bokov
yesterday
It depends. Someone who thinks they are a safe driver would be offended if told they "drive like a lunatic". But an extreme skateboarder is probably pleased being told they "skateboard like a lunatic".
– DJClayworth
yesterday
add a comment |
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1 Answer
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1 Answer
1
active
oldest
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6
There is only one modern adjectival meaning of 'lunatic' and it is:
- "silly in a dangerous way", or "wildly foolish"
There is an old meaning of "mentally ill", but the term would never be used of someone actually mentally ill today. 'crazy' would be a good synonym.
So a 'lunatic cat' would be a cat that behaved dangerously, or 'wildly foolishly'.
The etymology does derive from 'lunar' for the moon, but the modern meanings do not relate to the moon. The adjective for 'of or pertaining to the moon' would be 'lunar'.
answered 2 days ago
DJClayworthDJClayworth
9,5861929
2
Or to answer the OP directly, no, 'lunatic' evokes nothing about the moon to a modern speaker.
– Mitch
2 days ago
ok, then how offensive sounds "lunatic" (meaning "silly in a dangerous way")? could a person be offended if named so? could a cat owner be offended if his cat is named so?
– Vlad Bokov
yesterday
It depends. Someone who thinks they are a safe driver would be offended if told they "drive like a lunatic". But an extreme skateboarder is probably pleased being told they "skateboard like a lunatic".
– DJClayworth
yesterday
add a comment |
6
There is only one modern adjectival meaning of 'lunatic' and it is:
- "silly in a dangerous way", or "wildly foolish"
There is an old meaning of "mentally ill", but the term would never be used of someone actually mentally ill today. 'crazy' would be a good synonym.
So a 'lunatic cat' would be a cat that behaved dangerously, or 'wildly foolishly'.
The etymology does derive from 'lunar' for the moon, but the modern meanings do not relate to the moon. The adjective for 'of or pertaining to the moon' would be 'lunar'.
answered 2 days ago
DJClayworthDJClayworth
9,5861929
2
Or to answer the OP directly, no, 'lunatic' evokes nothing about the moon to a modern speaker.
– Mitch
2 days ago
ok, then how offensive sounds "lunatic" (meaning "silly in a dangerous way")? could a person be offended if named so? could a cat owner be offended if his cat is named so?
– Vlad Bokov
yesterday
It depends. Someone who thinks they are a safe driver would be offended if told they "drive like a lunatic". But an extreme skateboarder is probably pleased being told they "skateboard like a lunatic".
– DJClayworth
yesterday
add a comment |
6
6
6
There is only one modern adjectival meaning of 'lunatic' and it is:
- "silly in a dangerous way", or "wildly foolish"
There is an old meaning of "mentally ill", but the term would never be used of someone actually mentally ill today. 'crazy' would be a good synonym.
So a 'lunatic cat' would be a cat that behaved dangerously, or 'wildly foolishly'.
The etymology does derive from 'lunar' for the moon, but the modern meanings do not relate to the moon. The adjective for 'of or pertaining to the moon' would be 'lunar'.
answered 2 days ago
DJClayworthDJClayworth
9,5861929
There is only one modern adjectival meaning of 'lunatic' and it is:
- "silly in a dangerous way", or "wildly foolish"
There is an old meaning of "mentally ill", but the term would never be used of someone actually mentally ill today. 'crazy' would be a good synonym.
So a 'lunatic cat' would be a cat that behaved dangerously, or 'wildly foolishly'.
The etymology does derive from 'lunar' for the moon, but the modern meanings do not relate to the moon. The adjective for 'of or pertaining to the moon' would be 'lunar'.
answered 2 days ago
DJClayworthDJClayworth
9,5861929
edited yesterday
answered 2 days ago
DJClayworthDJClayworth
9,5861929
answered 2 days ago
DJClayworthDJClayworth
9,5861929
answered 2 days ago
DJClayworthDJClayworth
9,5861929
9,5861929
2
Or to answer the OP directly, no, 'lunatic' evokes nothing about the moon to a modern speaker.
– Mitch
2 days ago
ok, then how offensive sounds "lunatic" (meaning "silly in a dangerous way")? could a person be offended if named so? could a cat owner be offended if his cat is named so?
– Vlad Bokov
yesterday
It depends. Someone who thinks they are a safe driver would be offended if told they "drive like a lunatic". But an extreme skateboarder is probably pleased being told they "skateboard like a lunatic".
– DJClayworth
yesterday
add a comment |
2
Or to answer the OP directly, no, 'lunatic' evokes nothing about the moon to a modern speaker.
– Mitch
2 days ago
ok, then how offensive sounds "lunatic" (meaning "silly in a dangerous way")? could a person be offended if named so? could a cat owner be offended if his cat is named so?
– Vlad Bokov
yesterday
It depends. Someone who thinks they are a safe driver would be offended if told they "drive like a lunatic". But an extreme skateboarder is probably pleased being told they "skateboard like a lunatic".
– DJClayworth
yesterday
2
2
Or to answer the OP directly, no, 'lunatic' evokes nothing about the moon to a modern speaker.
– Mitch
2 days ago
Or to answer the OP directly, no, 'lunatic' evokes nothing about the moon to a modern speaker.
– Mitch
2 days ago
ok, then how offensive sounds "lunatic" (meaning "silly in a dangerous way")? could a person be offended if named so? could a cat owner be offended if his cat is named so?
– Vlad Bokov
yesterday
ok, then how offensive sounds "lunatic" (meaning "silly in a dangerous way")? could a person be offended if named so? could a cat owner be offended if his cat is named so?
– Vlad Bokov
yesterday
It depends. Someone who thinks they are a safe driver would be offended if told they "drive like a lunatic". But an extreme skateboarder is probably pleased being told they "skateboard like a lunatic".
– DJClayworth
yesterday
It depends. Someone who thinks they are a safe driver would be offended if told they "drive like a lunatic". But an extreme skateboarder is probably pleased being told they "skateboard like a lunatic".
– DJClayworth
yesterday
add a comment |
Vlad Bokov is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
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2
A "moon cat" would probably called a lunar cat.
– Cascabel
2 days ago
Using cat standards, I'd consider it to be "normal".
– Hot Licks
yesterday