December 22, 2006
The words "ulterior" and "nefarious" are two very special English words, for reasons you will find out soon. Let us play a simple game of fill-in-the-blanks. Answer with the first word that comes to mind that will complete the phrase.
If you answered "ulterior motive" and "nefarious intent" respectively, then you answered correctly. If you're wondering why are those the "correct" answers, well, what other answers are there?
It almost seems as if there is no other thing that can be "ulterior" aside from a motive, and similarly, "nefarious" can only be used to describe intent. They are paired automatically, so much so that you probably can't even recall what "ulterior" and "nefarious" mean anymore. Yes, it is true that you can say "ulterior action" or "nefarious plot", but it just doesn't quite cut it. They just don't get along well with any other words. I dare you to prove me wrong.
Here are some other words that are in the same league (scroll down to see the answers). Also, feel free to share your own.
Answers:
(Update: Quite a number of people have commented on my inclusion of "nefarious" on the list. I admit that I got "nefarious" totally wrong. I remember now where I got the "nefarious intent" association. It's from one of the ever-so-witty lines from the Star Control computer game series. It comes courtesy of the cowardly Spathi alien race, whose folklore speak of an "Ultimate Evil" whose ability to evade detection "gives conclusive evidence as to The Ultimate Evil's nefarious intent". Check out this page and search for "nefarious intent". This would explain why my brother and I both make the same association since we played Star Control 2 together years ago, back when our minds were more malleable. "Malleable minds"? Nah.)
- ulterior _______
- nefarious _______
If you answered "ulterior motive" and "nefarious intent" respectively, then you answered correctly. If you're wondering why are those the "correct" answers, well, what other answers are there?
It almost seems as if there is no other thing that can be "ulterior" aside from a motive, and similarly, "nefarious" can only be used to describe intent. They are paired automatically, so much so that you probably can't even recall what "ulterior" and "nefarious" mean anymore. Yes, it is true that you can say "ulterior action" or "nefarious plot", but it just doesn't quite cut it. They just don't get along well with any other words. I dare you to prove me wrong.
Here are some other words that are in the same league (scroll down to see the answers). Also, feel free to share your own.
- well-oiled _______
- endangered _______
- incriminating _______
Answers:
- well-oiled machine
- endangered species
- incriminating evidence
(Update: Quite a number of people have commented on my inclusion of "nefarious" on the list. I admit that I got "nefarious" totally wrong. I remember now where I got the "nefarious intent" association. It's from one of the ever-so-witty lines from the Star Control computer game series. It comes courtesy of the cowardly Spathi alien race, whose folklore speak of an "Ultimate Evil" whose ability to evade detection "gives conclusive evidence as to The Ultimate Evil's nefarious intent". Check out this page and search for "nefarious intent". This would explain why my brother and I both make the same association since we played Star Control 2 together years ago, back when our minds were more malleable. "Malleable minds"? Nah.)
Labels: English, word games
TO me "nefarious" goes with scheme. In fact that goes both ways in that when I see the word "scheme" I virtualize the word "nefarious" in front of it. It took me a while to understand that in England the word "scheme" does not imply something nefarious. Perhaps this is cultural (you know we Americans are "different") or prehaps it relfects the books I've read in my life time. All of the rest are spot on though.
@Alfred: Thanks for your comment. I totally agree with your observation that culture and literary background play a role. My brother and I got engaged in this word game some time back and we got mostly the same answers. When I did the activity with friends, I got varying results. My brother and I agree that we have the same responses mostly because we read the same books.
I also take exception with your pairing of "nefarious." My answer was "deed." My thinking is that since "nefarious" is a synonym for "evil," practically anything that goes with "evil" can go with "nefarious."
I also use "nefarious" with "scheme," and "plot," but never with "intent." Actually, I sometimes even use the word on it's own, as a predicate adjective. Same with "endangered" and "incriminating."
What's interesting is that I think this can be used to your advantage if you're a writer; by eschewing the standard pairings, you can ever-so-subtly display a little wit. The proper substitution of the second word can probably even be leveraged for humorous effect somehow; see Joss Whedon's TV shows for a bunch of examples.
@All: Thanks for your comments. I admit that I got "nefarious" totally wrong. I remember now where I got the "nefarious intent" association. It's from one of the ever-so-witty lines from the Star Control series. It comes courtesy of the cowardly Spathis, who say that the "Ultimate Evil's" ability evade detection "gives conclusive evidence as to The Ultimate Evil's nefarious intent". This would explain why my brother and I both make the same association since we played the game together years ago. Visit http://starcontrol.classicgaming.gamespy.com/scwc/completehistory.shtml and search for "nefarious intent". ;)
@Miguel: Yes, I know the words can be used in their own, but just to clarify, the point is to think of a word that will correctly pair with the given word.
hahhah....kinda new words for me..
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