1 a : TRANSCENDENT 1b b : SUPERNATURAL c : ABSTRUSE, ABSTRACT d : of or relating to transcendentalism2 a : incapable of being the root of an algebraic equation with rational coefficients ** is a transcendental number* b : being, involving, or representing a function (as sin x, log x, ex) that cannot be expressed by a finite number of algebraic operations *transcendental curves*3 in Kantian philosophy a : of or relating to experience as determined by the mind's makeup b : transcending experience but not human knowledge
being beyond comprehension.
"Not just scary - really, really scary"
Way toooooo much credit to the McBane crew here, Mr. V: I think it's just using a Big Word that Sounds Nice. Nobody does seem to call him or others on such cheap tricks.
Yes, Ridger, scary beyond belief and comprehension. I'll just being quivering in my boots and wetting my pants.Anon, I wouldn't bet money on you being wrong here. Sigh.
Is there some way we can get some talking head to ask him what he means by it? I'd luuuuuv to see him try to define it. McWriggle.
Talk about priceless ... I'd kill to hear that. I was sort of half imagining this morning what it would be like if it came up in a debate, but the odds are outrageously long on that.
Maybe he's just misremembering one of Cheney & Co.'s favorite scare phrases, the "existential threat" we're under from Islamic terrorism. I wrote about this use of "existential threat" = "threat to existence" at some point in The Word, but I'm too lazy to look for the URL --need another hit of caffeine first.
Oh wow, that's a good point, Jan -- some McCain aid working the thesaurus too hard?I remember people joking about the 'existential threat' as the attack of the existentialists (!) but wouldn't have made that connection. Not sure whether Thoreau or Sartre is more frightening.Thanks!
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7 comments:
"Not just scary - really, really scary"
Way toooooo much credit to the McBane crew here, Mr. V: I think it's just using a Big Word that Sounds Nice. Nobody does seem to call him or others on such cheap tricks.
Yes, Ridger, scary beyond belief and comprehension. I'll just being quivering in my boots and wetting my pants.
Anon, I wouldn't bet money on you being wrong here. Sigh.
Is there some way we can get some talking head to ask him what he means by it? I'd luuuuuv to see him try to define it. McWriggle.
Talk about priceless ... I'd kill to hear that. I was sort of half imagining this morning what it would be like if it came up in a debate, but the odds are outrageously long on that.
Maybe he's just misremembering one of Cheney & Co.'s favorite scare phrases, the "existential threat" we're under from Islamic terrorism. I wrote about this use of "existential threat" = "threat to existence" at some point in The Word, but I'm too lazy to look for the URL --need another hit of caffeine first.
Oh wow, that's a good point, Jan -- some McCain aid working the thesaurus too hard?
I remember people joking about the 'existential threat' as the attack of the existentialists (!) but wouldn't have made that connection.
Not sure whether Thoreau or Sartre is more frightening.
Thanks!
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