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AH020387 Posted 16 years ago
Vocabulary
Depress
As Englsih is my second language I thereofore do not know what words sound strange and what words don't when used in different contexts until a native speaker tell me.
Can I use the word 'depress' as a verb to mean 'lower' in the following context or would it sound 'strange' in 21 century English:
'Depress (lower) your scapulae'
?
Can I use the word 'depress' as a verb to mean 'lower' in the following context or would it sound 'strange' in 21 century English:
'Depress (lower) your scapulae'
?
Top answer
To me, this usage is borderline. Usually, when we depress something, we treat it as an object, and apply pressure to it from outside. I closed my eyes.
- To me, this usage is borderline.
- Usually, when we depress something, we treat it as an object, and apply pressure to it from outside.
- I closed my eyes.
- I closed the dead man's eyes.
- "Closed" can be used both ways, if you get my meaning.
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6 Answers
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To me, this usage is borderline. Usually, when we depress something, we treat it as an object, and apply pressure to it from outside.
I closed my eyes.
I closed the dead man's eyes.
"Closed" can be used both ways, if you get my meaning.
Perhaps "depressed" is used in this way in certain contexts. I'm not sure.
I closed my eyes.
I closed the dead man's eyes.
"Closed" can be used both ways, if you get my meaning.
Perhaps "depressed" is used in this way in certain contexts. I'm not sure.
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Hi,
It's not wrong.
'Depress' is a higher-register word that sounds OK wih a technical term like 'scapula'.
But to a patient, a doctor is much, much more likely to say
eg Raise your shoulder, and then lower your shoulder.
Lots of non-medical people don't even know what a scapula is.
Clive
It's not wrong.
'Depress' is a higher-register word that sounds OK wih a technical term like 'scapula'.
But to a patient, a doctor is much, much more likely to say
eg Raise your shoulder, and then lower your shoulder.
Lots of non-medical people don't even know what a scapula is.
Clive
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The more I think about it, the more inclined I am to say that we would not use "depress" in this way.
You could well say, "The doctor depressed my scapulae" (both of them?), or possibly, "I'm suffering from a depressed scapula."
You could well say, "The doctor depressed my scapulae" (both of them?), or possibly, "I'm suffering from a depressed scapula."
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