The example he used was: imagine you are trying to explain to someone that has never seen a ball, what a ball is.
Saying "it is like a ball" simply wouldn't suffice.
Message received.
Then I thought people who make their living defining things (ooh, I don't know - maybe the people who write the dictionary) would know this.
Turns out they don't.
Okay. I am frequently complimented on my English, because let's face it - it's pretty fucking good, and it is not my first language. I think one of the reasons I got so fluent is that I have never been embarrassed about what I don't know. I ask in conversation 'what does that mean?', or less frequently 'how do you pronounce that?'. More often I simply GOOGLE IT. (I know, you didn't see that one coming, did you?).
Today, the word I stumbled upon was overzealous. Hmm, I thought. I think I know what that means, but I'm not sure. Let us google that to make sure I've got it right.
overzealous
əʊvəˈzɛləs/
adjective
- 1.too zealous in one's attitude or behaviour."he's been overzealous in handing out parking tickets"
I don't know about you lot, but the 'over' bit in overzealous wasn't what was tripping me up.
zealous
ˈzɛləs/
adjective
- 1.having or showing zeal."the council was extremely zealous in the application of the regulations"
synonyms: fervent, ardent, fervid, fiery, passionate, impassioned, devout,devoted; More
Seriously? Even the synonyms aren't very helpful.
zeal
ziːl/
FINALLY.
Okay, dictionary people. I don't know if this is something you are aware of, but some people may find it kind of embarrassing to not know something. As discussed, I am not one of those people. Nonetheless...
Way to go, to make me do it - not once, not twice but THREE times. I'm pretty sure that is the definition of condescension.