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Usenet Posted 21 years ago
Usage
"Hopeful" as a noun.
I have noticed in the last few years the use of the word "hopeful" as a noun.
Most frequently this has been in the context of the Olympic Games where a prospective competitor has been described as an "Olympic Hopeful". Can anyone trace this usage back to its roots?
Furthermore, I believe the terminology has been enhanced. I'm sure I heard an athlete described as an Olympic Hopeful even after he had failed to reach said games. I can only explain this in one of the following ways:-
1) "Hopeful" is a euphemism for unsuccessful
2) "Hopeful" is a term for an elite band of athletes in consideration forOlympic places but those that make it become "Olympians" - the rest remain "hopeful".
3) "Hopeful" is a status term for an athlete who has qualified for theOlympics but has yet to be, or has not been, selected.
4) They are still considered hopeful of reaching the following Olympics.
Can anyone shed any light on this?
Ida Goode-Johnson
Most frequently this has been in the context of the Olympic Games where a prospective competitor has been described as an "Olympic Hopeful". Can anyone trace this usage back to its roots?
Furthermore, I believe the terminology has been enhanced. I'm sure I heard an athlete described as an Olympic Hopeful even after he had failed to reach said games. I can only explain this in one of the following ways:-
1) "Hopeful" is a euphemism for unsuccessful
2) "Hopeful" is a term for an elite band of athletes in consideration forOlympic places but those that make it become "Olympians" - the rest remain "hopeful".
3) "Hopeful" is a status term for an athlete who has qualified for theOlympics but has yet to be, or has not been, selected.
4) They are still considered hopeful of reaching the following Olympics.
Can anyone shed any light on this?
Ida Goode-Johnson
Top answer
[nq:1]I have noticed in the last few years the use of the word "hopeful" as a noun. Most frequently this ... 4) They are still considered hopeful of reaching the following Olympics.
- [nq:1]I have noticed in the last few years the use of the word "hopeful" as a noun.
- Most frequently this ...
- 4) They are still considered hopeful of reaching the following Olympics.
- Can anyone shed any light on this?
- Ida Goode-Johnson[/nq] MWCD traces "hopeful" as a noun meaning "aspirant" back to 1720.
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22 Answers
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[nq:1]I have noticed in the last few years the use of the word "hopeful" as a noun. Most frequently this ... 4) They are still considered hopeful of reaching the following Olympics. Can anyone shed any light on this? Ida Goode-Johnson[/nq]
MWCD traces "hopeful" as a noun meaning "aspirant" back to 1720. It even gives the example "Olympic hopefuls." If 1720 is "the last few years" for you...you
MWCD traces "hopeful" as a noun meaning "aspirant" back to 1720. It even gives the example "Olympic hopefuls." If 1720 is "the last few years" for you...you
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[nq:1]I have noticed in the last few years the use of the word "hopeful" as a noun. Most frequently this ... been, selected. 4) They are still considered hopeful of reaching the following Olympics. Can anyone shed any light on this?[/nq]
Descriptions aren't always updated instantly. If a person is described as a 'hopeful', whoever is talking or writing about them probably isn't going to edit c
Descriptions aren't always updated instantly. If a person is described as a 'hopeful', whoever is talking or writing about them probably isn't going to edit c
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[nq:1]Descriptions aren't always updated instantly. If a person is described as a 'hopeful', whoever is talking or writing about them probably isn't going to edit copy the day after the selections to change it to 'hopeless'.[/nq]
What happened to those Rugby (?) players who played in matches between "Possibles" and "Probables"?
Fran
What happened to those Rugby (?) players who played in matches between "Possibles" and "Probables"?
Fran
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[nq:1]Descriptions aren't always updated instantly. If a person is described as a 'hopeful', whoever is talking or writing about them probably isn't going to edit copy the day after the selections to change it to 'hopeless'.[/nq]
Unless it's Paula Radcliffe!
Ida Goode-Johnson
Unless it's Paula Radcliffe!
Ida Goode-Johnson
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[nq:1]MWCD traces "hopeful" as a noun meaning "aspirant" back to 1720. It even gives the example "Olympic hopefuls." If 1720 is "the last few years" for you...you're actually Duncan McLeod, aren't you?[/nq]
Oh, of course, the famous 1720 Olympics!
Obviously the example "Olympic Hopeful" dates back to 1896 at the very earliest. I suspect it is more recent.
Ida Goode-Johnson
Oh, of course, the famous 1720 Olympics!
Obviously the example "Olympic Hopeful" dates back to 1896 at the very earliest. I suspect it is more recent.
Ida Goode-Johnson
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[nq:2]MWCD traces "hopeful" as a noun meaning "aspirant" back to ... last few years" for you...you're actually Duncan McLeod, aren't you?[/nq]
[nq:1]Oh, of course, the famous 1720 Olympics! Obviously the example "Olympic Hopeful" dates back to 1896 at the very earliest. I suspect it is more recent.[/nq]
You don't think it's a translation from the Greek then, Idgie? To clarify the history:
[nq:1]Oh, of course, the famous 1720 Olympics! Obviously the example "Olympic Hopeful" dates back to 1896 at the very earliest. I suspect it is more recent.[/nq]
You don't think it's a translation from the Greek then, Idgie? To clarify the history:
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[nq:2]MWCD traces "hopeful" as a noun meaning "aspirant" back to ... "the last few years"for you...you're actually Duncan McLeod, aren't you?[/nq]
[nq:1]Oh, of course, the famous 1720 Olympics! Obviously the example "Olympic Hopeful" dates back to 1896 at the very earliest. I suspect it is more recent. Ida Goode-Johnson[/nq]
I didn't mention anything about the Olympics occuring in 1720. In
[nq:1]Oh, of course, the famous 1720 Olympics! Obviously the example "Olympic Hopeful" dates back to 1896 at the very earliest. I suspect it is more recent. Ida Goode-Johnson[/nq]
I didn't mention anything about the Olympics occuring in 1720. In
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[nq:1]What happened to those Rugby (?) players who played in matches between "Possibles" and "Probables"?[/nq]
I have no idea, but this reminds me of a Tom Clancy novel where the characters were talking about their scores in a shooting competition, and a perfect score was called "a possible". As in 500 points out of a possible 500, I presume.
I am delighted to say that I have no idea of ho
I have no idea, but this reminds me of a Tom Clancy novel where the characters were talking about their scores in a shooting competition, and a perfect score was called "a possible". As in 500 points out of a possible 500, I presume.
I am delighted to say that I have no idea of ho
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[nq:2]What happened to those Rugby (?) players who played in matches between "Possibles" and "Probables"?[/nq]
[nq:1]I have no idea, but this reminds me of a Tom Clancy novel where the characters were talking about their ... 500, I presume. I am delighted to say that I have no idea of how widespread this usage may be.[/nq]
It's de rigeur in UK paper target shooting circles (Geddit?), and I
[nq:1]I have no idea, but this reminds me of a Tom Clancy novel where the characters were talking about their ... 500, I presume. I am delighted to say that I have no idea of how widespread this usage may be.[/nq]
It's de rigeur in UK paper target shooting circles (Geddit?), and I
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Mark Brader:
[nq:2]I have no idea, but this reminds me of a ... in 500 points out of a possible 500, I presume.[/nq]
Paul Wolff:
[nq:1]500 ex 500 would to me be five possibles, not one (unless it's an odd competition that I've never heard of).[/nq]
I don't remember the actual top score mentioned in the book; I think it was either 300, 400, or 500. The competition might have been an
[nq:2]I have no idea, but this reminds me of a ... in 500 points out of a possible 500, I presume.[/nq]
Paul Wolff:
[nq:1]500 ex 500 would to me be five possibles, not one (unless it's an odd competition that I've never heard of).[/nq]
I don't remember the actual top score mentioned in the book; I think it was either 300, 400, or 500. The competition might have been an
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