Here's a word we need to learn the meaning of: "apologist."

[Occam Bandage]

It does not mean "someone who apologizes for someone else." Rather, it means "someone who makes formal arguments defending or justifying something else."

It does look an awful lot like the word "apologize." That is because the word "apologize" in English originally meant "to speak in defense of something" as it did in its original Greek and then Latin forms. Over the centuries, the word shifted to something like "to speak in self-defense," then "to make excuses for one's self," and then to its current meaning. On the other hand, "apologist" and "apologetics," being specific to academia and theology, were used less frequently, and so had less opportunity to shift, and so kept their original meaning of "defender" and "defense" respectively.

Anyway. When you use the word "apologist," you do not mean "someone who makes excuses for someone else," or "someone who accepts blame on behalf of someone else." You are saying, "someone who offers formal arguments in defense of someone or something else."

Please keep this in mind.

Thank you.

[billyoc]

1. With all due respect to the Greeks and Romans, shit ain't like that.

Apologist is a term of derision reserved for people defending the policy of others, e.g. "Fox News is full of Bush apologists".

[Occam Bandage]

4. It is often used derisively, yes. I'm fine with derisive use of the word.

I'm more aiming this, actually, at the people who are taking express offense at being called "apologist" because "I'm not apologizing for anything."

[billyoc]

6. They know they're being mocked.

[MADem]

16. There are a lot of people here who don't appreciate the full flavor of the English language.

The "casting asparagus" crowd will not appreciate your efforts at elucidation, despite the fact that your thesis is right on the mark.

[burning rain]

11. Just call 'em an "O'Reilly" if they don't understand!

^

[Richardo]

2. You, what with the etymologies and actual meanings and stuff

You think we're here to LEARN things? GD does NOT let ignorance get in the way of a good, consistent malaprop.

[Jennicut]

3. Proper use of words is not needed! Dammit!

Okay, its good to know.

[cboy4]

5. Hmmm. That's weird, I looked up "apologist" and it said:

General Discussion: Presidential.

[Runcible Spoon]

9. ........

:spray: :thumbsup:

[FrenchieCat]

7. I'm called an apologist here everyday.......

I never bothered to look it up, as I was only certain that it was nothing more than an insult....since folks get a big kick out of insulting me; makes them feel superior, which as we know is key to having a great day.

[Occam Bandage]

8. It's a neat trick, using it as an insult. The word itself

ought lack any sort of insulting quality. But by using it in a context where it is obviously meant to be taken as such, it becomes one. But then why is it an insult to claim someone is defending something? Obviously only if the thing they are defending is absolutely indefensible. It's been used along those lines so many times that "X apologist" is now turning outright from "defender of X" to "defender of indefensible thing X."

Which is kind of exciting from a linguistic perspective, because I don't think we have another word that means that. The lovely richness of synonyms in the English language yields a perpetually bountiful harvest of new and exciting words!

[CreekDog]

12. yeah, it's an insult

Occam points out correctly that it's not part of the actual definition, but nobody calls you an apologist because they agree with you. :eyes:

:hi:

and don't worry what they call you. :pals:

[Cha]

10. Oh.

Like a defender..I don't have to defend Obama, either.

–noun 1. a person who makes a defense in speech or writing of a belief, idea, etc.
2. Ecclesiastical. a. Also, a⋅pol⋅o⋅gete  /əˈpɒləˌdʒit/ Show Spelled Pronunciation Show IPA . a person skilled in apologetics.
b. one of the authors of the early Christian apologies in defense of the faith.

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/apologist

[Hissyspit]

13. Um...

denotation vs connotation

[ZombieHorde]

14. One of my pet peeves is the misuse of the word "literally".

I see this word being misused here on DU from time to time. Some posters seem to think the definition of the word "literally" is "not literally".

K&R

[yodermon]

15. this is actually the case

Literally literally means literally, but literally figuratively means figuratively.

It's one of those words that's been misused so much that its definition has expanded.
Although i will refer you to "dust" and "cleave".
Interesting article on "literally": http://www.slate.com/id/2129105/

[ZombieHorde]

18. Acording to the

http://www.askoxford.com/concise_oed/literally?view=uk">Oxford online dictionary, "2 informal used for emphasis (rather than to suggest literal truth)."

I entered the word "http://www.askoxford.com/results/?view=dict&freesearch=informal+&branch=13842570&textsearchtype=exact">informal" into the online dictionary and seemed to have confused the website.

I am currently in school studying to become a teacher, if I succeed, I will be able to subject my students to my linguistic pet peeves. Bwahahahahaa!

[MADem]

17. Figuratively speaking, you mean?

:evilgrin:

[ZombieHorde]

19. I didn't use the word "literally" to describe anything, so I am good.

I recognize my distaste for that informal usage (vulgar slang) is only a pet peeve, but it is a pet peeve I am literally willing to post on DU about.

[TahitiNut]

20. Ending a sentence a preposition with? (Tsk. Tsk.)

:evilgrin:

[Occam Bandage]

22. People complaining about things like ending sentences with prepositions,

double negatives, and split infinitives are my pet peeves. All are perfectly lovely, well attested, common English devices (though in formal writing, you generally ought steer clear). None would be problematic were it not for a pack of dim-witted grammarians in the 1800s who somehow got it in their heads that English grammar ought conform to Latin grammar. Thank god they were stopped before they made us decline our nouns.

[Reterr]

21. That is not just DU

Many people misuses that word in that way....

[Political Tiger]

23. Interesting.

Good to know! Next time someone calls me an "apologist," which will probably happen before this day is over, I shall say THANK YOU! ;)