different between idiomatic vs workaday

English

Alternative forms

• idiomatick (obsolete)

Etymology

From Ancient Greek ??????????? (idi?matikós, “related to an idiom”), from ?????? (idí?ma, “idiom”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /??di.??mæt?k/

Adjective

idiomatic (comparative more idiomatic, superlative most idiomatic)

1. Pertaining or conforming to idiom, the natural mode of expression of a language.

   The inclusion or omission of definite articles follows idiomatic norms in each language and depends on context and intent.

   In English, the only idiomatic position for a pronoun as the object of a phrasal verb is before the particle, whereas a noun as object can fall either before or after the particle; thus only he picked them up but either he picked his tools up or he picked up his tools.

2. Resembling or characteristic of an idiom.

   an idiomatic phrase that warns us against pollyannaism is counting one's chickens before they hatch

3. (music) Parts or pieces which are written both within the natural physical limitations of the instrument and human body and, less so or less often, the styles of playing used on specific instruments.

Antonyms

• nonidiomatic
• unidiomatic

Related terms

• idiom
• idiomatical
• idiomatically
• idiomaticity
• idiomaticize
• idiomaticness

Translations

Noun

idiomatic (plural idiomatics)

1. Synonym of idiom

References

• idiomatic in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911.
• idiomatic in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.

Romanian

Etymology

From French idiomatique

Adjective

idiomatic m or n (feminine singular idiomatic?, masculine plural idiomatici, feminine and neuter plural idiomatice)

1. idiomatic

Declension

English

Alternative forms

• workyday (obsolete)

Etymology

Circa 1200, Middle English werkedei, from Old Norse virkr dagr (“working day”). Cognate to later workday; see work and day. Used in adjective sense from 16th century. Note that the surface analysis work +? a +? day is cognate, but not the correct etymology – a much older formation.

Adjective

workaday (comparative more workaday, superlative most workaday)

1. Suitable for everyday use.
2. Mundane or commonplace.

Quotations

• 1916, Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man, James Joyce, Macmillan Press Ltd, paperback, p. 102:

  A retreat, my dear boys, signifies a withdrawal for a while from the cares of our life, the cares of this workaday world, in order to examine the state of our conscience, to reflect on the mysteries of holy religion and to understand better why we are here in this world."

Related terms

• workday

Translations

References