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Vocabobobo Posted 18 years ago
Vocabulary
nondescript location....
Hello. I was reading a story about an informant who worked for FBI to infiltrate the group of young muslims, and run into this phrase "nondescript location." The phrase was used in the following sentence:
The informants' recording devices - which may have been embedded in cell phones or some other nondescript location - malfunctioned multiple times during the investigation.
The dictionary definition of "nondescript" from online dictionaries doesn't appear to match the definition of the word in this context. Can I assume nondescript location in this sentence means a location such that a recording device hidden within it is difficult to find? (In the previous sentence, should I have written "such a location that a recording device hidden within it is difficult to find"?)
Please help and thank you so much in advance.
The informants' recording devices - which may have been embedded in cell phones or some other nondescript location - malfunctioned multiple times during the investigation.
The dictionary definition of "nondescript" from online dictionaries doesn't appear to match the definition of the word in this context. Can I assume nondescript location in this sentence means a location such that a recording device hidden within it is difficult to find? (In the previous sentence, should I have written "such a location that a recording device hidden within it is difficult to find"?)
Please help and thank you so much in advance.
Top answer
I would think it is more likely that the locations for the bugs are not locations that are likely to draw attention - practically everybody carries cell/mobile phones these days. "Nondescript" = not having distinctive characteristics.
- I would think it is more likely that the locations for the bugs are not locations that are likely to draw attention - practically everybody carries cell/mobile phones these days.
- "Nondescript" = not having distinctive characteristics.
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2 Answers
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I would think it is more likely that the locations for the bugs are not locations that are likely to draw attention - practically everybody carries cell/mobile phones these days.
"Nondescript" = not having distinctive characteristics.
"Nondescript" = not having distinctive characteristics.
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Hi guys,
Another, although related, meaning of 'nondescript' is uninteresting, dull. To me, this meaning is so strong that it sounds a bit like the passage is referring to 'an uninteresting or dull location'. It just sounds a little bit odd to me. Obviously, the writer liked his phrase,but I'd prefer to say something like 'an everyday location'.
Clive
Another, although related, meaning of 'nondescript' is uninteresting, dull. To me, this meaning is so strong that it sounds a bit like the passage is referring to 'an uninteresting or dull location'. It just sounds a little bit odd to me. Obviously, the writer liked his phrase,but I'd prefer to say something like 'an everyday location'.
Clive
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