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NL888 Posted 12 years ago
Grammar

The subdivision of the duperies?

Does "the subdivision of the duperies" mean "the branch of the trickery"?

Context:

The priests of the different religious sects . . . dread the
advance of science as witches do the approach of
daylight, and scowl on the fatal harbinger announcing
the subdivision of the duperies on which they live.

THOMAS JEFFERSON
  

Top answer

NL888 Does "the subdivision of the duperies" mean "the branch of the trickery"? I think it means the analytic scientific dissection of the duperies.

— Mister Micawber

  • NL888 Does "the subdivision of the duperies" mean "the branch of the trickery"?
  • I think it means the analytic scientific dissection of the duperies.
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9 Answers
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NL888Does "the subdivision of the duperies" mean "the branch of the trickery"?
I think it means the analytic scientific dissection of the duperies.
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NL888the subversions of the duperies on which they live.
not subdivision.I think it's no more so intricate.
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A little research on the matter suggests that subversions is correct, and subdivisions is a mistake that crept into the text when someone misquoted it. Subversions makes far more sense.
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NL888subdivision is right
I'm afraid not. It's a mistake by Dawkins himself.

See http://timstuhldreher.blogspot.com/2014/03/memetics-in-action-dawkins-thomas.html
NL888the subversion of the duperies
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CalifJimI'm afraid not. It's a mistake by Dawkins himself.
Mr. Stuhldreher hasn't gone back far enough. The *** Delusion dates to 2006, but the same mistake appears in "Jefferson's Declaration of Independence: Origins, Philosophy, and Theology", by Allen Jayne (1998).

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Blue JayMr. Stuhldreher hasn't gone back far enough. The *** Delusion dates to 2006, but the same mistake appears in "Jefferson's Declaration of Independence: Origins, Philosophy, and Theology", by Allen Jayne (1998).
Then it seems Dawkins was not quoting directly from Jefferson's text.
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CalifJimThen it seems Dawkins was not quoting directly from Jefferson's text.
Perhaps he was quoting Allen Jayne.
CalifJimDoes that mean he was wrong and there IS a ***?
If he's wrong about Jefferson, how could he possibly be right about ***?
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