Testy Copy Editors

Our new website is up and running at testycopyeditors.org. This board will be maintained as an archive. Please visit the new site and register. Direct questions to the proprietor, blanp@testycopyeditors.org
It is currently Tue May 14, 2024 8:22 am

All times are UTC - 5 hours




Forum locked This topic is locked, you cannot edit posts or make further replies.  [ 3 posts ] 
Author Message
 Post subject: Screw the money, I just like fire
PostPosted: Sun Feb 23, 2003 10:22 pm 
Offline

Joined: Tue Aug 06, 2002 12:01 am
Posts: 138
We use "arson" to describe a fire set intentionally, but the dictionary definition says it is "The crime of purposely setting fire to another's building or property, or to one's own, as to collect insurance."<p>Is arson really specifically for collecting insurance, or did Webster's write this wrong?


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: Screw the money, I just like fire
PostPosted: Sun Feb 23, 2003 11:08 pm 
Offline

Joined: Sat Feb 01, 2003 1:01 am
Posts: 281
Location: Dallas
Merriam Websters says "the willful or malicious burning of property (as a building) especially with criminal or fraudulent intent."<p>And Black's Law Dictionary says, "Under modern statutes, the malicious burning of someone else's or one's own dwelling house or of anyone's commercial or industrial property."


Top
 Profile E-mail  
 
 Post subject: Re: Screw the money, I just like fire
PostPosted: Mon Feb 24, 2003 3:51 am 
Offline

Joined: Mon Apr 29, 2002 12:01 am
Posts: 76
Location: NJ
The catch in the Webster's entry is that "as" in the last phrase. The dictionary's editors seem to use that frequently as a space-saving alternative to "for example."


Top
 Profile E-mail  
 
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
Forum locked This topic is locked, you cannot edit posts or make further replies.  [ 3 posts ] 

All times are UTC - 5 hours


Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 5 guests


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot post attachments in this forum

Search for:
Jump to:  
Powered by phpBB © 2000, 2002, 2005, 2007 phpBB Group

What They're Saying




Useful Links