Thursday, December 4, 2008

Immensely Flat

Pliny the Elder: Far be it from me to dispute with anybody over their use of English, but don't you think 'immensely flat' is a rather inappropriate epithet for a small moth that turned out to be a lick of paint?

Me: What, you don't believe it was very flat?

Pliny the Elder: I do indeed. I am not disputing the adjective 'flat', but the adverb 'immensely'.

Me: Why?

Pliny the Elder: Because, my dear, it implies great size, and your moth, as you say, was very small.

Me: I meant that its flatness was immeasurable, not that it was of great size.

Pliny the Elder: Well now, tell me the truth, are you still happy with 'immensely flat'?

Me: Not indisputably.

Pliny the Elder: Then I am immensely flattered.

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