Usenet Posted 23 years ago
Usage
'Neanderthal' as an insult
Another post inspired by recent political events in Washington, DC. A United States senator stated that Democrats will "continue to resist any Neanderthal that is nominated by this president" for a judicial post. I saw a discussion on Fox News in which the participants were picking and choosing between various insulting meanings of "Neanderthal." Personally, I think such uses are an insult to the actual Neanderthals themselves, but when the question is considered, "How is 'Neanderthal' actually used as an insult?" we should be aware of what current American dictionaries have to say on the subject:
From the dictionary at Infoplease.com at
http://www.infoplease.com/ipd/A0550189.html
(quote)
adj.
2. (often l.c.) Informal. primitive, unenlightened, or reactionary;culturally or intellectually backward.
n.
2. (often l.c.) Informal. a. an unenlightened or ignorant person; barbarian. b. a reactionary; a person with very old-fashioned ideas.
(end quote)
From the *Encarta World English Dictionary,* North American Edition, at http://encarta.msn.com/dictionary 1861682908/Neandertal.html
(quote)
Neandertal or Neanderthal
adjective
2. Neandertal or *neandertal offensive term:* an offensive term used to describe somebody perceived as displaying the lack of intellect, lack of sensitivity, and boorishness traditionally associated with cave dwellers ( insult )
3. Neandertal or *neandertal offensive term:* an offensive term meaning very old-fashioned or conservative ( insult )
noun (plural Ne·an·der·tals*) (plural *Ne·an·der·thals*)*Neandertal* or *neandertal
*offensive term:* an offensive term for somebody who is regarded as crude, primitive, or excessively old-fashioned ( insult )
(end quote)
From the AHD4, at
http://www.bartleby.com/61/1/N0040100.html
(quote)
Neanderthal
VARIANT FORMS: also Ne·an·der·tal
2. Slang Crude, boorish, or slow-witted.
(end quote)
From the Merriam-Webster online dictionary at
www.m-w.com
(quote)
Function: adjective
1 also Ne·an·der·tal : being, relating to, or resembling Neanderthalman
2 : suggesting a caveman in appearance, mentality, or behavior
(end quote)
Raymond S. Wise
Minneapolis, Minnesota USA
E-mail: mplsray @ yahoo . com
From the dictionary at Infoplease.com at
http://www.infoplease.com/ipd/A0550189.html
(quote)
adj.
2. (often l.c.) Informal. primitive, unenlightened, or reactionary;culturally or intellectually backward.
n.
2. (often l.c.) Informal. a. an unenlightened or ignorant person; barbarian. b. a reactionary; a person with very old-fashioned ideas.
(end quote)
From the *Encarta World English Dictionary,* North American Edition, at http://encarta.msn.com/dictionary 1861682908/Neandertal.html
(quote)
Neandertal or Neanderthal
adjective
2. Neandertal or *neandertal offensive term:* an offensive term used to describe somebody perceived as displaying the lack of intellect, lack of sensitivity, and boorishness traditionally associated with cave dwellers ( insult )
3. Neandertal or *neandertal offensive term:* an offensive term meaning very old-fashioned or conservative ( insult )
noun (plural Ne·an·der·tals*) (plural *Ne·an·der·thals*)*Neandertal* or *neandertal
*offensive term:* an offensive term for somebody who is regarded as crude, primitive, or excessively old-fashioned ( insult )
(end quote)
From the AHD4, at
http://www.bartleby.com/61/1/N0040100.html
(quote)
Neanderthal
VARIANT FORMS: also Ne·an·der·tal
2. Slang Crude, boorish, or slow-witted.
(end quote)
From the Merriam-Webster online dictionary at
www.m-w.com
(quote)
Function: adjective
1 also Ne·an·der·tal : being, relating to, or resembling Neanderthalman
2 : suggesting a caveman in appearance, mentality, or behavior
(end quote)
Raymond S. Wise
Minneapolis, Minnesota USA
E-mail: mplsray @ yahoo . com
Top answer
--
Get the Weekly English Kit 📬
New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.
0
[nq:1]when the question is considered, "How is 'Neanderthal' actually used as an insult?" we should be aware of what current American dictionaries have to say onthe subject:[/nq]
I think this is very Irish of you.
Don Phillipson
Carlsbad Springs (Ottawa, Canada)
I think this is very Irish of you.
Don Phillipson
Carlsbad Springs (Ottawa, Canada)
00
[nq:1] Personally, I think such uses are an insult to the actual Neanderthals themselves, [/nq]
I agree. Presumably the high school there (just north of Cologne) has "Neandertal" written on the team jerseys and varsity sweaters. They're obviously in for a bit of ribbing from the opposing team's cheerleading squad at sporting events. You can just imagine the cruelty.
I've wondered the same
I agree. Presumably the high school there (just north of Cologne) has "Neandertal" written on the team jerseys and varsity sweaters. They're obviously in for a bit of ribbing from the opposing team's cheerleading squad at sporting events. You can just imagine the cruelty.
I've wondered the same
00
[nq:1]Another post inspired by recent political events in Washington, DC. A United States senator stated that Democrats will "continue to ... saw a discussion on Fox News in which the participants were picking and choosing between various insulting meanings of "Neanderthal."[/nq]
Maybe they should be using "troglodyte" instead?
Gary G. Taylor * Rialto, CA
gary at donavan dot org /
Maybe they should be using "troglodyte" instead?
Gary G. Taylor * Rialto, CA
gary at donavan dot org /
00
[nq:2] Personally, I think such uses are an insult to the actual Neanderthals themselves, [/nq]
[nq:1]I agree. Presumably the high school there (just north of Cologne) has "Neandertal" written on the team jerseys and varsity ... wondered the same thing about the poor high-schoolers in Sodom, Israel. I wonder if they play intermural basketball against Gomorrah.[/nq]
And what did they *do* i
[nq:1]I agree. Presumably the high school there (just north of Cologne) has "Neandertal" written on the team jerseys and varsity ... wondered the same thing about the poor high-schoolers in Sodom, Israel. I wonder if they play intermural basketball against Gomorrah.[/nq]
And what did they *do* i
00
[nq:2]I agree. Presumably the high school there (just north of ... Israel. I wonder if they play intermural basketball against Gomorrah.[/nq]
[nq:1]And what did they *do* in Gomorrah?[/nq]
Sodded off.
wrmst rgrds
Robin Bignall
Quiet part of Hertfordshire
England
[nq:1]And what did they *do* in Gomorrah?[/nq]
Sodded off.
wrmst rgrds
Robin Bignall
Quiet part of Hertfordshire
England
00
(Deleted silly )
[nq:2]I've wondered the same thing about the poor high-schoolers in Sodom, Israel. I wonder if they play intermural basketball against Gomorrah.[/nq]
[nq:1]And what did they *do* in Gomorrah?[/nq]
Sodomized local chicks and got infected with gomorrhea?
Reinhold (Rey) Aman
[nq:2]I've wondered the same thing about the poor high-schoolers in Sodom, Israel. I wonder if they play intermural basketball against Gomorrah.[/nq]
[nq:1]And what did they *do* in Gomorrah?[/nq]
Sodomized local chicks and got infected with gomorrhea?
Reinhold (Rey) Aman
00
Don Aitken filted:
[nq:2]I agree. Presumably the high school there (just north of ... Israel. I wonder if they play intermural basketball against Gomorrah.[/nq]
[nq:1]And what did they *do* in Gomorrah?[/nq]
Same thing they did in Sodom, but with considerably less enthusiasm..
I've always wanted to incite a rivalry between two small towns in southeastern Arizona, Saint David a
[nq:2]I agree. Presumably the high school there (just north of ... Israel. I wonder if they play intermural basketball against Gomorrah.[/nq]
[nq:1]And what did they *do* in Gomorrah?[/nq]
Same thing they did in Sodom, but with considerably less enthusiasm..
I've always wanted to incite a rivalry between two small towns in southeastern Arizona, Saint David a
00
[nq:2] Personally, I think such uses are an insult to the actual Neanderthals themselves, [/nq]
[nq:1]I agree. Presumably the high school there (just north of Cologne) has "Neandertal" written on the team jerseys and varsity ... same thing about the poor high-schoolers in Sodom, Israel. I wonder if they play intermural basketball against Gomorrah. \\P. Schultz[/nq]
You've got to consider t
[nq:1]I agree. Presumably the high school there (just north of Cologne) has "Neandertal" written on the team jerseys and varsity ... same thing about the poor high-schoolers in Sodom, Israel. I wonder if they play intermural basketball against Gomorrah. \\P. Schultz[/nq]
You've got to consider t
00
[nq:2]I agree. Presumably the high school there (just north of ... wonder if they play intermural basketball against Gomorrah. \\P. Schultz[/nq]
[nq:1]You've got to consider the source. Chappaquiddick Ted is an obese drunkard who is guilty of vehicular homicide. As a Celt he carries a lot of baggage.[/nq]
You're making a classical "ad hominem" argument:
See
[nq:1]You've got to consider the source. Chappaquiddick Ted is an obese drunkard who is guilty of vehicular homicide. As a Celt he carries a lot of baggage.[/nq]
You're making a classical "ad hominem" argument:
See
0