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Andrei Posted 22 years ago
Grammar
Voyeur
He is a voyeur.
This person becomes happy when he found the others around him get into problems like unemployment, divorce and bodily injuries.
Would you use the above sentence to describe him?
This person becomes happy when he found the others around him get into problems like unemployment, divorce and bodily injuries.
Would you use the above sentence to describe him?
Top answer
No, a voyeur is a person who likes to watch something; usually sexual activity. ) so we usually borrow a word from German - schadenfreude. Literal German meaning is harm joy.
- No, a voyeur is a person who likes to watch something; usually sexual activity.
- ) so we usually borrow a word from German - schadenfreude.
- Literal German meaning is harm joy.
- It is commonly used in English.
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10 Answers
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No, a voyeur is a person who likes to watch something; usually sexual activity.
I don't think there is a word in English for your definition (apart form git!) so we usually borrow a word from German - schadenfreude. Literal German meaning is harm joy. It is commonly used in English.
I don't think there is a word in English for your definition (apart form git!) so we usually borrow a word from German - schadenfreude. Literal German meaning is harm joy. It is commonly used in English.
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No, I would definitely not use that sentence. As Nona pointed out, it has totally different connotations.
I'd say that the person takes perverse pleasure in the misfortunes of others.
(A voyeur takes perverse pleasure in the sexual activity of others. The two are not at all the same!)
I'd say that the person takes perverse pleasure in the misfortunes of others.
(A voyeur takes perverse pleasure in the sexual activity of others. The two are not at all the same!)
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I thank everybody for the replies. When it comes to watching the sexual activities, the word is Peepingm Tom.
Am I wrong?
Am I wrong?
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Just looked up voyeur in my dictionary.
1) a person who gains sexual pleasure from watching others when they are naked or engaged in sexual activity.
This is the definition we all seem familiar with.
There is a second definition as well
2)a person who enjoys seeing the pain or distress of others.
Which is the definition I'd guess the o.p. saw.
1) a person who gains sexual pleasure from watching others when they are naked or engaged in sexual activity.
This is the definition we all seem familiar with.
There is a second definition as well
2)a person who enjoys seeing the pain or distress of others.
Which is the definition I'd guess the o.p. saw.
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Nona,
I am not at all familiar with that second definition, but you are certainly right that it must be the definition that Andrei saw.
I just looked up the word in a French dictionary -- after all, it is a French borrowing -- and found that only the first definition is used in French! The French definition is exactly that of a Peeping Tom. English must have acquired the se
I am not at all familiar with that second definition, but you are certainly right that it must be the definition that Andrei saw.
I just looked up the word in a French dictionary -- after all, it is a French borrowing -- and found that only the first definition is used in French! The French definition is exactly that of a Peeping Tom. English must have acquired the se
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I was delighted to read all the interesting comments.
By the way, the word Nona means something like a lady in some Indic languages. The word Ayah means a maid in some Indic languages.
Indic branch of the Indo-European language family includes Prakrit and Sanskrit.
The modern varients are Hindi, Urdu, Bengali etc.
Nona the Brit literaly means a Britsh lady.
By the way, the word Nona means something like a lady in some Indic languages. The word Ayah means a maid in some Indic languages.
Indic branch of the Indo-European language family includes Prakrit and Sanskrit.
The modern varients are Hindi, Urdu, Bengali etc.
Nona the Brit literaly means a Britsh lady.
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Andrei,
Thanks for that information, I'll have to tell my boyfriend that I am a lady after all (something like one anyway l.o.l.)
It is just one of those strange coincidences though. Nona is my family nick-name.
My nieces and nephews (who started arriving when I was 6) couldn't get their tongues round my real name for some reason. My name is Fiona, and they used to say
Thanks for that information, I'll have to tell my boyfriend that I am a lady after all (something like one anyway l.o.l.)
It is just one of those strange coincidences though. Nona is my family nick-name.
My nieces and nephews (who started arriving when I was 6) couldn't get their tongues round my real name for some reason. My name is Fiona, and they used to say
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I don't think it is possible to distinguish the difference between the words lady and girl. However, dictionaries are free to describe in their own right. These two words are synonymous, as far as I am concerned. Someone may call you as a lady and antother one will call you as a girl.
I know Fiona is a British female name. I knew a British woman called Fiona. She was a English teacher.
I know Fiona is a British female name. I knew a British woman called Fiona. She was a English teacher.
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Some voyeurs might enjoy seeing the pain and distress of others
in sexual contexts.
De Sade at the keyhole, in other words.
MrP
in sexual contexts.
De Sade at the keyhole, in other words.
MrP
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