0
Usenet Posted 23 years ago
Usage
Chiropractic, chiropractry, chiropracty, chiropractice
Ok, this has come up before here but a looong time ago.
I recently saw someone attempt correct an author who used 'chiropractic' as the noun, saying it was either "chiropractic thepary" or 'chiropractry'. Now of course 'chiropractic' is the correct noun, but what's odd is that many dictionaries don't seem to even allow it as an adjective. What is also surprising is that while 'chiropractry' sounds vaguely logical, it only scores a meagre 188 google hits, and 'chiropracty' (which sounds very strange to me), gets a slightly healthier 1010 hits. Chiropractice gets 2120 hits. All three words are used as part of official organisation names, yet none appear in dictionaries that I could be bothered checking.
Does anyone have a dictionary with a different view on the matter?
Dylan
I recently saw someone attempt correct an author who used 'chiropractic' as the noun, saying it was either "chiropractic thepary" or 'chiropractry'. Now of course 'chiropractic' is the correct noun, but what's odd is that many dictionaries don't seem to even allow it as an adjective. What is also surprising is that while 'chiropractry' sounds vaguely logical, it only scores a meagre 188 google hits, and 'chiropracty' (which sounds very strange to me), gets a slightly healthier 1010 hits. Chiropractice gets 2120 hits. All three words are used as part of official organisation names, yet none appear in dictionaries that I could be bothered checking.
Does anyone have a dictionary with a different view on the matter?
Dylan
Top answer
in message ... [nq:1]Ok, this has come up before here but a looong time ago. I recently saw someone attempt correct an author ...
- in message ...
- [nq:1]Ok, this has come up before here but a looong time ago.
- I recently saw someone attempt correct an author ...
- in dictionaries that I could be bothered checking.
- [/nq] That's one I've wondered about as well.
Get the Weekly English Kit 📬
New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.
6 Answers
0
in message ...
[nq:1]Ok, this has come up before here but a looong time ago. I recently saw someone attempt correct an author ... in dictionaries that I could be bothered checking. Does anyone have a dictionary with a different view on the matter?[/nq]
That's one I've wondered about as well. For years, I would drive by a "School of Chiropractic". It always seems like something was missing
[nq:1]Ok, this has come up before here but a looong time ago. I recently saw someone attempt correct an author ... in dictionaries that I could be bothered checking. Does anyone have a dictionary with a different view on the matter?[/nq]
That's one I've wondered about as well. For years, I would drive by a "School of Chiropractic". It always seems like something was missing
00
[nq:1] in message ...[/nq]
[nq:2]Ok, this has come up before here but a looong ... have a dictionary with a different view on the matter?[/nq]
[nq:1]That's one I've wondered about as well. For years, I would drive by a "School of Chiropractic". It always seems ... of German derivation, something like "chiropratik"? That's the only way I can even see why it is the way itis.[/nq]
From th
[nq:2]Ok, this has come up before here but a looong ... have a dictionary with a different view on the matter?[/nq]
[nq:1]That's one I've wondered about as well. For years, I would drive by a "School of Chiropractic". It always seems ... of German derivation, something like "chiropratik"? That's the only way I can even see why it is the way itis.[/nq]
From th
00
in message ...
[nq:1]From the etymology of "chiropractic" in Merriam-Webster's Collegiate: "_chir-_ + Greek praktikos practical, operative -- more at PRACTICAL."[/nq]
Then, I have no idea, lol. That word has always been a mystery to me. I'm surprised something along the lines of "chirology" or some such wasn't chosen. It always looks like an adjective to me, like something should f
[nq:1]From the etymology of "chiropractic" in Merriam-Webster's Collegiate: "_chir-_ + Greek praktikos practical, operative -- more at PRACTICAL."[/nq]
Then, I have no idea, lol. That word has always been a mystery to me. I'm surprised something along the lines of "chirology" or some such wasn't chosen. It always looks like an adjective to me, like something should f
00
[nq:1]Ok, this has come up before here but a looong time ago. I recently saw someone attempt correct an author ... in dictionaries that I could be bothered checking. Does anyone have a dictionary with a different view on the matter?[/nq]
Chambers only allows "chiropractic", though I've heard "chiropracty" often enough. The other two are new to me, but hey, why have one word when four will do?
Chambers only allows "chiropractic", though I've heard "chiropracty" often enough. The other two are new to me, but hey, why have one word when four will do?
00
In article , "Larry says...
[nq:1]That's one I've wondered about as well. For years, I would drive by a "School of Chiropractic". It always seems ... German derivation, something like "chiropratik"? That's the only way I can even see why it is the way it is.[/nq]
It's on a level with "Lost Wages, Nevada", so I've only been able to get away with a few times, but some at my office remember
[nq:1]That's one I've wondered about as well. For years, I would drive by a "School of Chiropractic". It always seems ... German derivation, something like "chiropratik"? That's the only way I can even see why it is the way it is.[/nq]
It's on a level with "Lost Wages, Nevada", so I've only been able to get away with a few times, but some at my office remember
00
I always use the word "chiropraxis" as the noun. It's a word I made up, but I think it's appropriate.
Regarding the etymology of "chiropractic" used as a noun, I would venture to guess that it was coined by the originators of the medical discipline, who were not very bright bulbs. Hence the inappropriate use of the adjectival form as a noun.
Regarding the etymology of "chiropractic" used as a noun, I would venture to guess that it was coined by the originators of the medical discipline, who were not very bright bulbs. Hence the inappropriate use of the adjectival form as a noun.
0
Related Questions