"Supposably"

[Nevilledog]

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Tweet text:
Josh Marshall
@joshtpm
lol cmon

Dictionary.com
@Dictionarycom
Replying to @Dictionarycom
🚨 New word alert! 🚨

"supposably," which is an adverb meaning "as may be assumed, imagined, or supposed," is one of the 600 words we just added to http://Dictionary.com.
https://dictionary.com/browse/supposably?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=organicsocial&utm_campaign=dcomsocial…
3:46 PM · Mar 12, 2021

[CTyankee]

1. No. Just no.

[Cirque du So-What]

2. Destroying the English language

one word at a time.

[A HERETIC I AM]

9. "The problem with defending the purity of the English language....

is that English is about as pure as a cribhouse whore. We don't just borrow words; on occasion, English has pursued other languages down alleyways to beat them unconscious and rifle their pockets for new vocabulary.”


― James D. Nicoll

[Cirque du So-What]

11. I'm aware of that

but we've got a perfectly good word already. We don't need a bastardized version of the same word competing against the accepted version - especially when it's so sloppy as this one is.

[WhiskeyGrinder]

13. It's a word that's been around since the early 1800s.

[Cirque du So-What]

17. I don't like it

[WhiskeyGrinder]

19. Why not?

[Cirque du So-What]

22. I'm starting to come around...

I just found this:

https://www.merriam-webster.com/words-at-play/supposably-vs-supposedly#:~:text=Supposably%20means%20%22as%20may%20be,intends%20to%20say%20%22supposedly.%22&text=The%20two%20words%20have%20distinct%20meanings.

A common complaint about this word is that it is simply a mistaken use of supposedly. Sometimes this is the case, and sometimes it is not. Supposably may be found as far back as the 17th century. It is rarely encountered over the next hundred or so years, but at the beginning of the 19th century we see much more evidence of it being used.

(snip)

What does supposably mean? That’s where things get a bit tricky. In most early uses supposably appears to have a meaning that is distinct from supposedly, having the intended meaning of “capable of being conceived of.” Many people who use the word today, however, appear to intend it to mean something that is much closer to supposedly (“allegedly”). This modern sense bothers some people.

It is simple enough to point out that supposably and supposedly are just the adverbial forms of the adjectives supposable and supposed. However, when you consider that the definition of supposable is “capable of being supposed” (as well as “conceivable”) it is easy to see how these two words have a degree of overlap.

So in summation: supposably is a word, it has a meaning (“as may be conceived or imagined”) that is distinct from most uses of supposedly, but most people who use it nowadays might be better served by using supposedly instead. Now go take your dictionary pants off before they begin to chafe.

I'll continue to use 'supposedly' most of the time, but I won't chafe at 'supposably,' unless it's used incorrectly.

[WhiskeyGrinder]

23. Yeah, I posted that further down.

I do find it fascinating when people treat language as something that must be gatekept.

[Cirque du So-What]

26. I'm not that hidebound

but it's annoying to see garbage words like 'irregardless' tossed around.

[WhiskeyGrinder]

35. I used to get annoyed until I deliberately let it go when I realized I still knew what people

were trying to say when they used the word. And I say this as a professional writer/editor.

[csziggy]

39. Supposedly

[A HERETIC I AM]

29. I feel the same way about "Chomping at the bit"

When horses don’t fucking “chomp” at the bit, they “champ” a bit.

Understanding that’s a phrase and not a word, so how about “Irregardless”?

I agree with you, frankly. We already had a perfectly good word.

I think a lot of word modification is due short cutting, and the English and the Aussies are particularly good at that.

“Telly”

“Pub” (Short for “Public House”)

“Ute” (Aussie for “Utility vehicle”, mostly what we in the states know as a Ford Ranchero or a Chevy El Camino)

And on and on.....

[Cirque du So-What]

30. I've modified my stance (as demonstrated elsewhere in this thread)

It's conditional on whether the person uses 'supposably' correctly.

You know what gets me? 'Tow the line.' It's 'TOE the line!'

[LakeArenal]

33. Where you at? Drives me crazy.

Where did you find that at?

Nails on chalkboard for me.

[jcgoldie]

47. The response is...

"Behind the preposition."

[Cirque du So-What]

49. A joke

Guy from a western state gets a scholarship to an ivy-league school. His first day on campus, he's looking for the library. He asks a passerby:

New guy on campus: 'Excuse me, but can you tell me where the library is at?'

Snooty snob: 'From what cretinous backwater did you emerge? Don't you know that you never end a sentence with a preposition? Ask the question properly and I will provide the answer.'

New guy: 'I'm sorry. Can you tell me where the library is at, ASSHOLE !?!'

[niyad]

3. This is a joke, yes???

[AZSkiffyGeek]

24. I know a few people that use it. I figured it was a Southern thing nt

[WhiskeyGrinder]

4. Change happens. But don't worry, word snobs, this is just some online dictionary that cobbles its

word list from several others, not a venerated tome.

[csziggy]

43. Nope Merriam Webster considers it a real word

'Supposably' vs. 'Supposedly'
They're both real. But which are you supposed to use?

What to Know

Supposably is a real word and separate from supposedly. Supposably means "as may be conceived or imagined" and is the adverb form of supposable, which means "capable of being supposed or conceived." On the other hand, supposedly usually means "allegedly." The words are often conflated when one usually intends to say "supposedly."

{SNIP}

Supposably and Supposedly Are Different Words

A common complaint about this word is that it is simply a mistaken use of supposedly. Sometimes this is the case, and sometimes it is not. Supposably may be found as far back as the 17th century. It is rarely encountered over the next hundred or so years, but at the beginning of the 19th century we see much more evidence of it being used.

I observe two grand defects in this Reply; One, that 'tis not supposably legal, that all the Tenants in the Mannor can by Legal Forms of Judgment dispossess a Lawful, and possess a wrong Person into the Lordship of a Mannor, because these Tenants are not Judges in Law.
—Samuel Hill, A Debate on the Justice and Piety of the Present Constitution, 1696

If we find the bdellium of a passage supposably written in Kedem, is hardly to be explained by any production of Arabia, or Palestine, where is the impropriety of inquiring whether it may not be a well known article in Kedem?
—Scripture Illustrated, 1814

More: https://www.merriam-webster.com/words-at-play/supposably-vs-supposedly

[WhiskeyGrinder]

46. Yeah, I added that further down.

Quandoque bonus dormitat Homerus.

[Pantagruel]

5. Doesn't "supposedly"

cover that ground??

[niyad]

6. Wonder what OED says??

[csziggy]

48. My Compact OED has it as an adverb of "supposable"

Which is defined as "Capable of being supposed"

"Hence supposably adv. (Chiefly U.S.) as may be supposed; presumably." p. 3168, The Compact Edition of the Oxford English Dictionary, Vlume II P-Z, Oxford University Press 1971.

[niyad]

54. Thank you for this. It still grates on the ear.

[intrepidity]

7. Webster wept. nt

[soothsayer]

18. +1

[WhiskeyGrinder]

8. In addition, "supposably" is a word in Merriam-Webster, and has been in use since the early 1800s.

https://www.merriam-webster.com/words-at-play/supposably-vs-supposedly

What does supposably mean? That’s where things get a bit tricky. In most early uses supposably appears to have a meaning that is distinct from supposedly, having the intended meaning of “capable of being conceived of.” Many people who use the word today, however, appear to intend it to mean something that is much closer to supposedly (“allegedly”). This modern sense bothers some people.

It is simple enough to point out that supposably and supposedly are just the adverbial forms of the adjectives supposable and supposed. However, when you consider that the definition of supposable is “capable of being supposed” (as well as “conceivable”) it is easy to see how these two words have a degree of overlap.

So in summation: supposably is a word, it has a meaning (“as may be conceived or imagined”) that is distinct from most uses of supposedly, but most people who use it nowadays might be better served by using supposedly instead. Now go take your dictionary pants off before they begin to chafe.

[Dagstead Bumwood]

10. I find this new word to be entirely cromulent. n/t

[displacedtexan]

20. Indubitably, my dear Dagstead Bumwood.

[Aristus]

12. For all intensive purposes, this is an abasement of the English language.

[Treefrog]

16. Haha! I see what you did there! Very good!

[displacedtexan]

21. But it can't hold a camel to supposedly!

[Buckeye_Democrat]

14. I had no ideal!

Ideal : a thought or suggestion as to a possible course of action.

[Kingofalldems]

15. I'm older then you.

[HUAJIAO]

25. I'm voting it came from people who don't know how to pronounce supposedly.

[Caliman73]

27. Because people cannot annunciate "supposedly".

Was "sangwich" also added as a new word, to mean a food which consists of an ingredient, either meat, vegetable, or a spread like peanut butter between two slices of bread.

[WarGamer]

41. axe me a different question...

[johnp3907]

28. This should not of been done.

(See what I did there? )

[rsdsharp]

31. Sarah Palin, is that you?

[MineralMan]

32. Jebus wept.

[Blaukraut]

34. Why??? It's wrong!

Ugh. As a German whose second language is English, I have always taken particular care to about spelling, grammar, and proper usage of words. This word is just wrong. There is no reason to add it to a dictionary. Just teach people to use the correct word instead.

[WhiskeyGrinder]

37. It's been in a dictionary since the early 1800s.

[Blaukraut]

42. But people use it in the wrong context.

So it's still wrong

[Takket]

36. irregardless of dictionary.com's opinion, that ain't no word.

[Maru Kitteh]

38. nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

[WarGamer]

40. Dumbing down the English language...

One word at a time.

[jcgoldie]

44. well shit.

Do we really want to live in a world where when enough people say shit wrong we just say "ok fuck it, you win." ?

[jcboon]

50. Yeah

This is so good, you get free "reign" on this thread.

[Silver Swan]

51. I hated when impact became a verb

Now it sounds normal.

[mackdaddy]

52. Maybe next we can add "Liberry" and "Chimbley".

I ain't got nuthin.....

[Chautauquas]

53. Spusobaly

That's my new word. I need to contact dictionary.com immediately.

[mcar]

55. No. Just no.

[dalton99a]

56. Well, they done did it