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How well known is the word 'tome'?

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How well known is the word 'tome'?

  • 10 - Very commonly known

  • 9

  • 8

  • 7

  • 6

  • 5

  • 4

  • 3

  • 2

  • 1 - Incredibly obscure

Results are only viewable after voting.
Mike Gayner said:
Context can't help you learn the subtlety of definitions. Also, I can't tell you the number of times I've seen people get a word completely wrong because they thought they knew the word from context. This is the quickest way to make yourself look like a complete tool.
Click to expand...
Yes, yes it can. Everyone learns their first language though context, it is the only way a child can learn.

I've never studied a dictionary. I don't think many people have. And yet I have, and always have had, a pretty decent vocabulary.

Heck, most second languages are taught by way of "dictionary" study. I don't care how well you do in a spanish class, you are going to sound like a moron when you first go to mexico and try and speak spanish. It isn't until you have seen the words used in context by native speakers that you will start to "know" spanish.

People who generally misuse words do it because the word they mean to say sounds similar to the word they actually said. That, or they are trying to use big words to make themselves sound smart.

*edit* Dang you ATOT, you make me look crazy to my roommates. I just asked them "Do you guys know what the word tome means, t-o-m-e" None of them knew 🙁 I put 6/10, now I'm thinking it is less.*/edit*
 
Last edited:
Cogman said:
Yes, yes it can. Everyone learns their first language though context, it is the only way a child can learn.

I've never studied a dictionary. I don't think many people have. And yet I have, and always have had, a pretty decent vocabulary.

Heck, most second languages are taught by way of "dictionary" study. I don't care how well you do in a spanish class, you are going to sound like a moron when you first go to mexico and try and speak spanish. It isn't until you have seen the words used in context by native speakers that you will start to "know" spanish.

People who generally misuse words do it because the word they mean to say sounds similar to the word they actually said. That, or they are trying to use big words to make themselves sound smart.
Click to expand...

cliffs- read books.
 
Mike Gayner said:
People who think they can discern the meaning of a word accurately via context are morons.
Click to expand...

Uh, it's called an inference and people do it every day, all day long.. including you. Language wouldn't function without it.
 
I think I have a pretty decent vocabulary and don't recall ever seeing or hearing the word before. Then again I've never really played any fantasy/rpg games. Since it is common on those types of games, I'm not surprised to see most people give it an "8" in the poll.
 
Even though I knew what a tome was, I still put 5/10. If you want to know why, just look at your average Mike Gayner post.
 
It comes up very often as a clue in crossword puzzles. Means a very large or heavy book.
Sometimes also a book of reference, like a dictionary or atlas.
 
Everyone knows of tomes of ancient, forbidden knowledge. A better question to ask is how many know of the Necronomicon.
 
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