Discussion Groups / English Usage / January 2010

Don't make fun of such a grave matter!

With best wishes,

Peter.

It was a Danish review I was translating: "især kapitlerne om grønsager og
frugt er lapidariske".

Stone me.

--

I did understand it. I have had no occasion to use it: I don't write
such texts, and it would not occur to me in conversation. I didn't know
it was virtually unknown in English.

In other words, fit for blockheads.
--
franzi

I found the jocular responses in this thread someone surprising, as
I've never heard "lapidary" used in the context of monument or
gravestone work before--to me, it's always been a noun meaning a gem
cutter.

Clearly there _is_ such a definition--I don't mean to dispute that.

In looking quickly at online sources, though, I found something
surprising: they all seem to refer to lapidary as concretely dealing
with gem cutting, or metaphorically to words suitable for inscription
(be they elegent, concise, terse, or whatever).  None of the first few
sources I looked at have a definition for "lapidary" meaning the
actual inscription of monuments, though--Webster's is closest, but in
context (and from how I've heard it used) "engraved on stone" seems to
refer to the craft of cameos and the like.  I never would have guessed
at the "inscribing" meaning from their definition adj(2) below:

"n. 1 : a cutter, polisher, or engraver of precious stones usually
other than diamonds
2 : the art of cutting gems"
"adj. 1 : having the elegance and precision associated with
inscriptions on monumental stone <a stanza that has a lapidary
dignity>
2 a : sculptured in or engraved on stone b : of, relating to, or
suggestive of precious stones or the art of cutting them"

Wiktionary has a similar dichotomy--according to them, the term refers
to the cutting of gemstones, or metaphorically to words suitable for
inscription, but not actually to inscription itself:
1. Pertaining to gems and precious stones, or the art of working them.
2. Suitable for inscriptions; efficient, stately, concise.

A number of the other top web search hits turned up similar
definitions.

dictionary.com finally turns up an applicable definition as definition
#7--but along the way they suddenly flip-flop the metaphorical meaning
and have it as a reference to gem cutting!

6.    characterized by an exactitude and extreme refinement that suggests
gem cutting: a lapidary style; lapidary verse.
7.    of, pertaining to, or suggestive of inscriptions on stone monuments.

I'll add my answer then: I knew the word "lapidary", but not in this
context. Moreover, I guessed wrongly and thought that perhaps it meant
words set in stone, so your translation above would have been necessary
for me.

You mean you really wanted answers to the original question? Fair
enough.

I knew it meant pertaining to stones and erections, but didn't recall
the precise meaning as applied to style, though I might have guessed.
I wouldn't have used it in that sense.
--
franzi

Mon, 25 Jan 2010 11:02:13 -0600 from John O'Flaherty
<quiasmox@yeeha.com>:

I also have the computer AHD4, and that's what I checked before
posting.

Thanks for prompting me to take a second look. Apparently I looked at
it too hastily, and noticed only the noun meanings.  I see the same
adjective meanings that you cite.

Tue, 26 Jan 2010 01:19:46 +0000 (UTC) from Eric Walker
<email@owlcroft.com>:

You're right -- it's there, and I missed it through not reading the
entire screen carefully.

Pleathe don't pith in the thwimming pool.

--Jeff