Twigged

[Steven Hunley]

OK, so I'm reading Memoirs of a Fox-Hunting Man by Siegfried Sassoon and he writes of his aunt " she had twigged that it was a comparatively safe location..."

At the same time I just finished (this morning) Alan Sillitoe's Men Women and Children, where in at least two of the stories men woman and children "twig".

I assume this means to understand or figure something out. Oh, mighty English authors here, what exactly does 'twig' mean? I can't quite 'twig' it. (I hope that's what I mean)

[cacian]

Ok a twig is when someone ticks but does not know why. That is what it means.
In other words one realises there is something up but cannot put their finger on it.
Let consider a tree. The word twig comes from a tree and it is usually the dry ends of a tree branch.
They are a called a twig becomes they are the dried end bits of a tree that come to their ends and so they fall.
The reason they fall is to allow for new healthier branches to grow.
So to twig is to fall off a tree in this case . There is also that element of snap element. It is not healthy so it falls off.
But in human terms to twig is to suddenly wake up from something. It is not a realisation it is just a tick.
A bit like a rude awakening. You snap wake up real quick but without prior knowledge to why.
Another word for it is to snap. A snap is not usually a good sign.

[hillwalker]

I suggest you ignore the above definition - I've never read such claptrap. Having cacian explain English is about as worthwhile as having a hamster explain Gothic Architecture.

to twig is to suddenly reach an understanding (from the old Scottish word tuig meaning to understand).

H

[cacian]

I suggest you ignore the above definition - I've never read such claptrap. Having cacian explain English is about as worthwhile as having a hamster explain Gothic Architecture.

to twig is to suddenly reach an understanding (from the old Scottish word tuig meaning to understand).

H
LOL hillwalker that is not fair.
How about if I change it LOL.
if you do not it just means my perception is a different visual from yours which an allowance one must have if one if to stand out from the crowd. ;)

[hillwalker]

You're missing the point entirely.

The verb 'twig' has nothing to do with branches or twigs at the ends of branches. You're barking up the wrong tree.

Read my definition why don't you? You're not being invited to give an opinion - dictionary definitions aren't up for discussion, sadly.

H

[cacian]

You're missing the point entirely.

The verb 'twig' has nothing to do with branches or twigs at the ends of branches. You're barking up the wrong tree.

Read my definition why don't you? You're not being invited to give an opinion - dictionary definitions aren't up for discussion, sadly.

H
I am not invited I just do.

Now here is your dictionary entry.

twig
/twig/
Noun
A slender woody shoot growing from a branch or stem of a tree or shrub.
Verb
realize something.

Now check my post again see if can see hints.
There is no understanding when someone twigs it just means something ticked but not sure why,

[cafolini]

Twigged, twingging, transitive verb, to understand, from Irish or Scottish Gaelic, tuig, 1764.

[cacian]

Twigged, twingging, transitive verb, to understand, from Irish or Scottish Gaelic, tuig, 1764.

Twiggy? the model? do you know it?

[hillwalker]

If someone asks for the meaning of a word it's a fairly simple question - the fact that you offer a bizarre personal opinion based on your misunderstanding of the concept of language is hardly helping anyone.

You seem unable to accept the concept that two words spelled the same and pronounced the same in English but with different meanings don't necessarily come from the same source.

The noun 'twig' and the verb 'twig' come from two totally different roots. There is no link.
And I don't know where you get the idea of 'twig' meaning 'something ticked'.

The model Twiggy (Leslie Hornby) was so-named because she was thin as a branch or twig (noun). A rather pointless diversion to bring her up in this thread.

H

[cacian]

If someone asks for the meaning of a word it's a fairly simple question - the fact that you offer a bizarre personal opinion based on your misunderstanding of the concept of language is hardly helping anyone.

You seem unable to accept the concept that two words spelled the same and pronounced the same in English but with different meanings don't necessarily come from the same source.

The noun 'twig' and the verb 'twig' come from two totally different roots. There is no link.
And I don't know where you get the idea of 'twig' meaning 'something ticked'.

The model Twiggy (Leslie Hornby) was so-named because she was thin as a branch or twig (noun). A rather pointless diversion to bring her up in this thread.

H
So do you do see the link with twiggy from twig being a branch off a tree and to the fact that she was so thin. Why can you not see the link with twig from to twig? The same spelling and the same sound how coud they not be related?
I don't get you. Truly.
I brought Twiggy up to highlight the link. You took to it straight away a yet it spell slightly different from twig but then you do not see link between ''to twig'' with ''twig'' which are two exact spellings.
It is a real twig off that. Try sensing the word rather then placating what you know from a dictionary to another.
It is getting rather dull that you cannot bend here but you can in the other.
It is a blooming miracle you are still able to maintain conversation without girating towards a dictionary for advice.

[Adolescent09]

I suggest you ignore the above definition - I've never read such claptrap. Having cacian explain English is about as worthwhile as having a hamster explain Gothic Architecture.

to twig is to suddenly reach an understanding (from the old Scottish word tuig meaning to understand).

H

WOW! This is coming from someone with an avatar of a man whose personality makes dog excrement seem edible, who has about as much talent as the prepubescent testosterone-deprived transexual resembling kiddy groups he popularizes that spew nonsense 'music' on the airwaves, who is more pompous than a squirrel that has climbed Mount Everest twice, who is single handedly responsible for DESTROYING any vestige of the remains of any modicum of creativity that might have existed on TV prior to his presence...

and you have the nerve to disrespect cacian? Most people trash his poetry and he still treats everyone with respect.

You might be a better poet/writer than him, but you sir, have 0 heart.

[qimissung]

R e m i n d e r

Please refrain from posting in this section of the Forum

if you feel you are unable to show respect towards those who do not share your thoughts and beliefs.

Posts containing personal and/or inflammatory comments will be removed without further warning.

[Steven Hunley]

R e m i n d e r

Please refrain from posting in this section of the Forum

if you feel you are unable to show respect towards those who do not share your thoughts and beliefs.

Posts containing personal and/or inflammatory comments will be removed without further warning.

OK, I think I twig what's going on here, or at least I think I do. Thank you.

[hillwalker]

You're welcome, Steven.

And for the record I'm not disrespecting cacian. She seems unable to accept the simple fact that 'Twiggy' and the noun 'twig' are derived from the same word - but the verb 'twig' is not.

There is no link.

Cacian believes, from her wide experience of mangling the English language, that there should be.
That doesn't mean I have to go along with this fantasy.

In all honesty, trying to conduct a simple, sensible dialogue on what is supposedly a Literary forum is becoming increasingly impossible.

Adolescent09 - sorry but it's a 'NO' vote from me.

H

[cacian]

You're welcome, Steven.

And for the record I'm not disrespecting cacian. She seems unable to accept the simple fact that 'Twiggy' and the noun 'twig' are derived from the same word - but the verb 'twig' is not.

There is no link.

Cacian believes, from her wide experience of mangling the English language, that there should be.
That doesn't mean I have to go along with this fantasy.

In all honesty, trying to conduct a simple, sensible dialogue on what is supposedly a Literary forum is becoming increasingly impossible.

Adolescent09 - sorry but it's a 'NO' vote from me.

H

alright hillwalker or shall i call you ms twig because you are getting twigged up about much ado about nothing here yet again.
I mangle no language. Whoever gave you the idea.
You however do mangle what I say with what you say and then you make it sound mangled.
To put it clearly you are mingling me with someone else that does not care a mingle what you think or not.
Is that mangled enough?

[Emil Miller]

I mangle no language. Whoever gave the idea.


Don't all rush.

[Charles Darnay]

In all honesty, trying to conduct a simple, sensible dialogue on what is supposedly a Literary forum is becoming increasingly impossible.


You've noticed that too?

[hillwalker]

It is becoming tedious, to be honest. What am I even doing trying to conduct a sensible coversation with a troll?

:confused:

H

[Charles Darnay]

It is an exercise in postmodern frustration.

[AuntShecky]

OK, I think I twig what's going on here, or at least I think I do. Thank you.

I heart your sense o' humor and everything you say!
You're one of the best LitNutters we have.