Search found 49 matches

by Simon Le Fort
Fri Jun 28, 2019 6:19 pm
Forum: Countdown - Spoilers
Topic: Spoilers for Friday 28th June 2019 (S80, Grand Final!)
Replies: 24
Views: 11508

Re: Spoilers for Friday 28th June 2019 (S80, Grand Final!)

I think Dinos's FORESTUDY was a very fair risk. He would have thought his opponent had 8 and probably only had 7 himself. It would be interesting to know whether Elliott had an 8 up his sleeve? He declared a safe 7, of course.
by Simon Le Fort
Tue Jan 25, 2011 9:29 am
Forum: apterous.org
Topic: Foreign dictionary Apterous
Replies: 43
Views: 7401

Re: Foreign dictionary Apterous

French

Thanks for the lesson many months ago about the future of NOYER being NOIERAI; it works! NOYERAI isn't accepted. I think it was Karen who explained it.

I feel like I have gone back to square one as DC today offered both LAIERAI and LAYERAI.

Can anyone elaborate?
by Simon Le Fort
Tue Jan 25, 2011 9:29 am
Forum: apterous.org
Topic: Foreign dictionary Apterous
Replies: 43
Views: 7401

Re: Foreign dictionary Apterous

French

Thanks for the lesson many months ago about the future of NOYER being NOIERAI; it works! NOYERAI isn't accepted. I think it was Karen who explained it.

I feel like I have gone back to square one as DC today offered both LAIERAI and LAYERAI.

Can anyone elaborate?
by Simon Le Fort
Wed Oct 20, 2010 6:59 am
Forum: apterous.org
Topic: Good idea for a variant?
Replies: 277
Views: 38132

Re: Good idea for a variant?

I believe American words are currently ok in Apterous only where no equivalent British form exists. The features that distinguish accents are largely phonological ones beyond this simplified classification of the 44½ meaningful sounds . It's intonation and stress within words and sentences that mark...
by Simon Le Fort
Tue Oct 19, 2010 7:23 pm
Forum: apterous.org
Topic: Good idea for a variant?
Replies: 277
Views: 38132

Re: Good idea for a variant?

First, for Ian, here are the 44 symbols with example words showing the phoneme in initial, medial and final position: Consonants p pen, copy, happen b back, baby, job t tea, tight, button d day, ladder, odd k key, clock, school g get, giggle, ghost tʃ church, match, nature dʒ judge, age, soldier f f...
by Simon Le Fort
Tue Oct 19, 2010 12:53 pm
Forum: apterous.org
Topic: Good idea for a variant?
Replies: 277
Views: 38132

Pronunciation Apterous

There is another variant possible that would involve all players of English. The OED has pronunciation entries alongside each word and we could use the 44 phonemic symbols used to transcribe English instead of the 26 letters. There would be 20 in the vowels pile and 24 in the consonants. Distributio...
by Simon Le Fort
Tue Oct 19, 2010 12:39 pm
Forum: apterous.org
Topic: Foreign dictionary Apterous
Replies: 43
Views: 7401

Re: Foreign dictionary Apterous

Thanks Michael, you're right.

I'm going to delete my post as it no longer has any sense.
by Simon Le Fort
Tue Oct 19, 2010 11:22 am
Forum: apterous.org
Topic: Foreign dictionary Apterous
Replies: 43
Views: 7401

Re: Foreign dictionary Apterous

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
by Simon Le Fort
Thu Apr 29, 2010 10:10 am
Forum: apterous.org
Topic: Words You Would Have Thought...
Replies: 479
Views: 164156

Re: Words You Would Have Thought...

NOYERAI is the correct spelling of will drown, as confirmed by a simple google. I'll paste a little bit: noyerai will drown verbe All the --YER verbs keep their Y in past and future forms, just the present and the noun forms modify. Making the rule up myself, I think it's like that. (Essuyait; payer...
by Simon Le Fort
Tue Apr 27, 2010 10:58 pm
Forum: apterous.org
Topic: The pencil thread
Replies: 72
Views: 11746

Re: The pencil thread

Edward hadn't played French for a while. In our first game, he started in Round One with this: http://www.apterous.org/viewgame.php?game=232960.

Once he had warmed up, by Round 3, he just left me numb.
by Simon Le Fort
Tue Apr 27, 2010 10:46 am
Forum: apterous.org
Topic: Words You Would Have Thought...
Replies: 479
Views: 164156

Re: Words You Would Have Thought...

In French versus Matt B:

NOYERAI.
by Simon Le Fort
Fri Apr 09, 2010 10:53 am
Forum: apterous.org
Topic: Foreign dictionary Apterous
Replies: 43
Views: 7401

Re: Foreign dictionary Apterous

It is frustrating Alec. I would agree that words like these should be added to the Apterous dictionaries, if seconded by another player and excluding any chance of retrospective score changes. In general, the Apterous foreign language dictionaries I am using at the moment are very good and when I ha...
by Simon Le Fort
Sat Mar 06, 2010 11:24 am
Forum: apterous.org
Topic: Foreign dictionary Apterous
Replies: 43
Views: 7401

Re: Foreign dictionary Apterous

Oh, I'm sorry, you've all gone to such bother to reply. Maybe I wasn't clear. I was actually just saying that when I start a game and find myself on something pitiful like 6-0 after 4 rounds, I notice I always glance across to see which language I have selected, hoping for a technical error. Now and...
by Simon Le Fort
Fri Mar 05, 2010 5:31 pm
Forum: apterous.org
Topic: Foreign dictionary Apterous
Replies: 43
Views: 7401

Re: Foreign dictionary Apterous

You know things are going badly when you find yourself looking across after a few rounds to see which language dictionary is installed.
by Simon Le Fort
Fri Feb 05, 2010 4:07 pm
Forum: Countdown - Spoilers
Topic: Spoilers For Friday February 5th 2010
Replies: 35
Views: 4372

Re: Spoilers For Friday February 5th 2010

or

6x75 - (7x10) - 8-1= 371
by Simon Le Fort
Fri Jan 29, 2010 3:45 pm
Forum: Countdown - Spoilers
Topic: Dictionary Corner Guests
Replies: 143
Views: 19748

Re: Dictionary Corner Guests

I enjoyed reading everybody else's comments as I read through this topic this morning and felt it right to share my views as well. That's the way these things work, with take and give. I have said nothing but positive things about guests on the show, and about my own ideas as to other possible guest...
by Simon Le Fort
Fri Jan 29, 2010 12:50 pm
Forum: Countdown - Spoilers
Topic: Dictionary Corner Guests
Replies: 143
Views: 19748

Re: Dictionary Corner Guests

Wow, I only discovered this section today and such a rush of replies already, thanks everyone. Thanks especially for all the detail, James. Given that 95% of the most successful players seem to be males aged under 28, it would be good to have a DC guest in that category. Otherwise it's like Strictly...
by Simon Le Fort
Fri Jan 29, 2010 10:29 am
Forum: Countdown - Spoilers
Topic: Dictionary Corner Guests
Replies: 143
Views: 19748

Re: Dictionary Corner Guests

Geoffrey Durham was spell-binding. Great smile, great magical talent, and really strong with the words. He may have fallen from grace because of the Victoria wood business, I don't know, but it would be a shame. I do agree with the comment that Richard Stilgoe's involvement of the contesants' names ...
by Simon Le Fort
Fri Jan 29, 2010 7:55 am
Forum: apterous.org
Topic: Words You Would Have Thought...
Replies: 479
Views: 164156

Re: Words You Would Have Thought...

Jim's comment that EMACIATE works also adjectivally applies also to BICEP, hence that googling from professional trade journals, not blogs or tacky marketing - don't know why any such inaccuracies should clog the debate. To keep the bodybuilding theme, DUMBBELLS are always a pair at least, but a DUM...
by Simon Le Fort
Tue Jan 26, 2010 9:35 pm
Forum: apterous.org
Topic: Feature requests
Replies: 1956
Views: 432987

Re: Feature requests

Yes, even better like that. More pro-play. Just to explain, every time I switch langs to comply with someone's challenge, I have an unenjoyable game and play poorly. Particularly when switching back to English, I am looking for all the wrong affixes. The BUSY button is a godsend. I am sure it's diff...
by Simon Le Fort
Tue Jan 26, 2010 12:37 pm
Forum: apterous.org
Topic: Feature requests
Replies: 1956
Views: 432987

Re: Feature requests

Good idea, Miriam.

I think your wording is dead on: languages you can play in. Somehow it has to exclude the impression that you are willing to play in any of your nominated languages at any given moment.
by Simon Le Fort
Mon Jan 25, 2010 1:59 pm
Forum: apterous.org
Topic: Words You Would Have Thought...
Replies: 479
Views: 164156

Re: Words You Would Have Thought...

Yesterday for my opponent: BICEP. Quite amazing! The muscle is called the biceps (two heads). It's a common mistake and some dictionaries do list BICEP, usually with a usage note in a discouraging tone. Personally I think anyone who can't deal with singular nouns that end in S is an ignoramu. I jus...
by Simon Le Fort
Mon Jan 25, 2010 9:26 am
Forum: apterous.org
Topic: Apterous Etiquette
Replies: 155
Views: 15694

Re: Apterous Etiquette

I would, but the responsibility would be with the opponent to request this in the chat. The opponent cannot automatically be expected to notice this nor, in many cases, even to be aware it's important.
by Simon Le Fort
Mon Jan 25, 2010 9:11 am
Forum: apterous.org
Topic: Words You Would Have Thought...
Replies: 479
Views: 164156

Re: Words You Would Have Thought...

Yesterday for my opponent: BICEP.

Quite amazing!
by Simon Le Fort
Mon Jan 18, 2010 7:24 pm
Forum: apterous.org
Topic: Cheating: What it is, and why you shouldn't do it
Replies: 257
Views: 195959

Re: Cheating: What it is, and why you shouldn't do

Although the cheats are a real frustration, one event did make me smile. I was playing one of the higher rated ladies, and a good hiding she was giving me. In the chat I said words to the effect: "I've got 4 noisy Italians watching over my shoulder, all trying to tell me and each other what to ...
by Simon Le Fort
Sat Jan 16, 2010 12:49 pm
Forum: apterous.org
Topic: Monosyllabic Conundrums
Replies: 46
Views: 4639

Re: Monosyllabic Conundrums

STRENGTHS
by Simon Le Fort
Thu Jan 14, 2010 9:21 pm
Forum: apterous.org
Topic: Foreign dictionary Apterous
Replies: 43
Views: 7401

Re: Foreign dictionary Apterous

Maybe the most important issue hasn't been addressed yet. In spite of various exotic-sounding surnames, German, French, Welsh to name a few, we handful players all seem to be English native speakers; one German native doesn't play very often in German. It can only be a matter of time before native s...
by Simon Le Fort
Thu Jan 14, 2010 10:42 am
Forum: apterous.org
Topic: Request
Replies: 9
Views: 2185

Re: Request

Looking at Martin Gardner's French 9 record game of "only" 75, it was an outstanding performance with subjunctives, obscure words ( ie unknown to me! ) and an incredible French conundrum, FLIPPANCY. Plenty have tried overnight for you, Charlie, but it'll be a long time before this record f...
by Simon Le Fort
Wed Jan 13, 2010 7:58 pm
Forum: apterous.org
Topic: Monosyllabic Conundrums
Replies: 46
Views: 4639

Monosyllabic Conundrums

There can't be many.

Today in German: SCHWAERMT. (=swarms)

Any others?
by Simon Le Fort
Wed Jan 13, 2010 7:56 pm
Forum: apterous.org
Topic: Request
Replies: 9
Views: 2185

Re: Request

German 9-round record is 66, and that after many many attempts to beat it.
by Simon Le Fort
Sun Jan 10, 2010 6:17 pm
Forum: apterous.org
Topic: Foreign dictionary Apterous
Replies: 43
Views: 7401

Re: Foreign dictionary Apterous

The game is quite different in German as proper nouns are allowed. For the information of non-German speakers, this is probably because of the fact that, since all nouns in German have capital letters, the distinction between proper nouns and common nouns is blurred or non-existent. It can be very d...
by Simon Le Fort
Sun Jan 10, 2010 5:51 pm
Forum: apterous.org
Topic: Words You Would Have Thought...
Replies: 479
Views: 164156

Re: Words You Would Have Thought...

SUREFIRE

wasn't!
by Simon Le Fort
Thu Dec 17, 2009 5:51 pm
Forum: apterous.org
Topic: Apterous Etiquette
Replies: 155
Views: 15694

Re: Apterous Etiquette

Once I realised that I was getting an increasing number of mysteriously curtailed games, only ever when I was ahead, I started keeping screenshots of those games. That in itself helps, for a start. I don't really know what to do with my screenshots, but the collection has unfortunately grown rapidly...
by Simon Le Fort
Thu Dec 17, 2009 5:31 pm
Forum: apterous.org
Topic: Words You Would Have Thought...
Replies: 479
Views: 164156

Re: Words You Would Have Thought...

Here's another everyday word to steer clear of that both my opponent and I had disallowed:

POTTABLE.

Neither gardening nor snooker sense ...

To rub even more salt into the wounds, DC gave TABLETOP.
by Simon Le Fort
Sun Dec 13, 2009 1:55 pm
Forum: apterous.org
Topic: Words You Would Have Thought...
Replies: 479
Views: 164156

Re: Words You Would Have Thought...

I now know it's not a conspiracy against me.

Both my opponent and I had LOVENEST disallowed.
by Simon Le Fort
Sat Dec 05, 2009 6:10 pm
Forum: apterous.org
Topic: Words You Would Have Thought...
Replies: 479
Views: 164156

Re: Words You Would Have Thought...

Unlucky,Ian, POORLIEST surely sounds more usable than many of the words Dictionary Corner offers up. I think that's what makes this thread interesting for me. Not just having my gems disallowed, but then being shown silly words that are allowed. Harping back to my UNSIGHTS, ok, may be borderline, bu...
by Simon Le Fort
Thu Dec 03, 2009 5:42 pm
Forum: apterous.org
Topic: Words You Would Have Thought...
Replies: 479
Views: 164156

Re: Words You Would Have Thought...

UNSIGHT

And Dictionary Corner then gave GUNSIGHT.

They always rub salt into the wounds.
by Simon Le Fort
Mon Nov 30, 2009 7:01 pm
Forum: apterous.org
Topic: Cheating: What it is, and why you shouldn't do it
Replies: 257
Views: 195959

Re: Cheating: What it is, and why you shouldn't do

Thanks for your fast answers, all three. At least I am clearer on my options now.
by Simon Le Fort
Mon Nov 30, 2009 6:35 pm
Forum: apterous.org
Topic: Cheating: What it is, and why you shouldn't do it
Replies: 257
Views: 195959

Re: Cheating: What it is, and why you shouldn't do

I see passing mention earlier in this thread to opponents stopping the game when behind. And I see also comments how we should just leave cheats to disappear as they get no fun out of it. It's all a bit difficult to be 100% sure on-line and given the fact that games do crash. But the norm is for bot...
by Simon Le Fort
Fri Nov 20, 2009 5:50 pm
Forum: apterous.org
Topic: Words You Would Have Thought...
Replies: 479
Views: 164156

Re: Words You Would Have Thought...

Thanks again, Phil. We can agree to disagree, because there are so many words that are allowed in the game that I never use or even know the meaning of. Emaciate would sit snugly in that group for me. I guess the difference between us is that I am the victim, all suffering and hard-done-by; it's har...
by Simon Le Fort
Fri Nov 20, 2009 9:28 am
Forum: apterous.org
Topic: Words You Would Have Thought...
Replies: 479
Views: 164156

Re: Words You Would Have Thought...

EMACIATE. I can't even see that it's borderline. When was the last time you used it in a sentence? Thanks both for your comments and feedback but if we use the criterion above we'll eliminate a large proportion of the words accepted in the game. Pouters! Outcall! Townee! I have here the Empire Stan...
by Simon Le Fort
Thu Nov 19, 2009 10:23 am
Forum: apterous.org
Topic: Words You Would Have Thought...
Replies: 479
Views: 164156

Re: Words You Would Have Thought...

EMACIATE.

I can't even see that it's borderline.

I have kept a screenshot for my tombstone so others can share my grief.
by Simon Le Fort
Fri Nov 13, 2009 12:55 pm
Forum: apterous.org
Topic: Words You Would Have Thought...
Replies: 479
Views: 164156

Re: Words You Would Have Thought...

I tried VIAGRA today but it didn't have the desired effect.
by Simon Le Fort
Wed Nov 11, 2009 2:55 pm
Forum: apterous.org
Topic: Words You Would Have Thought...
Replies: 479
Views: 164156

Re: Words You Would Have Thought...

DRUID has a capital letter so is invalid. BAFTA is indeed an acronym (all in capitals) so is also invalid but there is another definition: bafta (also baft ) > noun [ mass noun ] coarse fabric, typically of cotton. Many thanks Kirk. Paganism was allowed the other day, so I guess there's a fine line...
by Simon Le Fort
Tue Nov 10, 2009 1:24 pm
Forum: apterous.org
Topic: Words You Would Have Thought...
Replies: 479
Views: 164156

Re: Words You Would Have Thought...

Oops, very sorry! Back to those words: FANMAIL - disallowed. I'll have to delete that thick folder in my Outlook Express. CALLOUT - I see from the stats that this disappointed lots of players in last week's Daily Duel. OUTCALL - this being then given by Anne Widdicombe then rubbed salt into the woun...
by Simon Le Fort
Sat Nov 07, 2009 9:15 am
Forum: apterous.org
Topic: Words You Would Have Thought...
Replies: 479
Views: 164156

Re: Words You Would Have Thought...

[Edited to remove spoilers -- Charlie]
by Simon Le Fort
Fri Oct 09, 2009 4:28 pm
Forum: apterous.org
Topic: Your best apterous word to date?
Replies: 124
Views: 14871

Re: Your best apterous word to date?

The only time I have risen above mediocrity so far was with WATERLOG.

It was disallowed.

I guess I remain mediocre.
by Simon Le Fort
Sun Oct 04, 2009 5:17 pm
Forum: apterous.org
Topic: Why do you play Apterous?
Replies: 18
Views: 2967

Re: Why do you play Apterous?

Thank you for your kind welcomes. None of these have helped and my rating has shrivelled since I got distracted by this forum. Your fault Derek, I'll send you an invoice for 100 points. One thing I don't understand that Derek wrote: "It amazes me that people play Apterous without knowing about ...
by Simon Le Fort
Fri Oct 02, 2009 9:20 pm
Forum: apterous.org
Topic: Why do you play Apterous?
Replies: 18
Views: 2967

Re: Why do you play Apterous?

Hello everybody This is my first post and I've been on the apterous site for 7 days now. I could instantly add another reason for playing: I live in the Alps and have limited exposure to mother-tongue level wordplay so this is an ideal site. But I also have limited contact with other mother-tongue s...