Cool word: Eisegesis

[NNadir]

Recently I had occasion to use the word "exegesis" which I have been using for years, but realized I was probably misspelling it as "exergesis."

The days when one would pull out a bound dictionary to correct oneself are, for better or worse, over. Google rules.

Exegesis is the process of discussing the meaning of text, usually attributed to religious text, but also applicable to academic or general text.

Eisegesis by contrast is the process of projecting one's own view of text on to the text, irrespective of the "real" or intended meaning of that text.

The latter, of course, is widely practiced these days, which accounts for the disaster through which we currently move.

[Bread and Circuses]

1. Thanks!

[Freddie]

2. My niece has a masters in linguistics

I’ve always found language fascinating myself, I’ll ask her about this.

[Silver Gaia]

3. Very interesting!

Thank you for sharing this.

[eppur_se_muova]

4. I thought it had something to do with making ice -- thinking "cool" was punning. nt

[Solly Mack]

5. So, what you're telling me is I should buy the shoes, but not in brown.

[NNadir]

6. You may be reading something into the text.

[Solly Mack]

7. Fine. I'll get the red ones.

[NNadir]

8. Sounds like a plan, but just to be clear, you've demonstrated eisegesis...

...for which I thank you, giving me my first opportunity to use the word in a sentence.

[Solly Mack]

10. I'm tapping my way into happiness. :)

You're welcome.

[Nittersing]

9. Ha!

[Solly Mack]

11. That's a vote for the brown shoes. :)

[Nittersing]

12. Actually, brown shoes with red laces.

But you knew that.

[Solly Mack]

13. Swanky

[malthaussen]

14. New one on me.

A word I've been sorely needing for years now.

-- Mal