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Jackson6612 Posted 15 years ago
Grammar
A malaise of cynicism and despair
malaise
My question is not particularly focused on the above definition of 'malaise' rather it's about all such kind of definitions.
sense (noun) : http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sense
I believe 4b and 4d fits here well.
4 b : a definite but often vague awareness or http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/impression <felt a sense of insecurity> <a sense of danger> d : a discerning awareness and http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/appreciation <her sense of humor>
Correct?
In the definition it says "a vague sense of mental or moral ill-being", and in the example phrase, "a malaise of cynicism and despair", it is clarified what kind of 'mental or moral ill-being' one is suffering from - i.e. cynicism and despair. Correct? But are 'cynicism' and 'despair' really that 'vague'? When one is a cynic he knows he is, there is nothing vague about it. The same goes for 'despair'
Please guide me. Thanks.
- 2 : a vague sense of mental or moral ill-being <a malaise of cynicism and despair - Malcolm Boyd>
My question is not particularly focused on the above definition of 'malaise' rather it's about all such kind of definitions.
sense (noun) : http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sense
I believe 4b and 4d fits here well.
4 b : a definite but often vague awareness or http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/impression <felt a sense of insecurity> <a sense of danger> d : a discerning awareness and http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/appreciation <her sense of humor>
Correct?
In the definition it says "a vague sense of mental or moral ill-being", and in the example phrase, "a malaise of cynicism and despair", it is clarified what kind of 'mental or moral ill-being' one is suffering from - i.e. cynicism and despair. Correct? But are 'cynicism' and 'despair' really that 'vague'? When one is a cynic he knows he is, there is nothing vague about it. The same goes for 'despair'
Please guide me. Thanks.
Top answer
I wouldn't disagree with you here.
- I wouldn't disagree with you here.
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2 Answers
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"I feel ill."
You might not know why, exactly, but you certainly feel like you're not right. This is malaise.
"I have strep throat."
This person "feels ill", no doubt, but it's not malaise. The sufferer is quite aware where and why the pain is.
Likewise, a cynic might know he's a cynic (just like everyone else knows he is), but that doesn't make the cynicism
You might not know why, exactly, but you certainly feel like you're not right. This is malaise.
"I have strep throat."
This person "feels ill", no doubt, but it's not malaise. The sufferer is quite aware where and why the pain is.
Likewise, a cynic might know he's a cynic (just like everyone else knows he is), but that doesn't make the cynicism
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