"If someone smokes cigarettes, quits for two years, smokes again for three years, quits for a decade, and then smokes for the next two years, at that point they are "still smoking" cigarettes."
Really? That situation isn't covered by the definition of "still".
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This
still1 /st?l/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[stil] Pronunciation Key - Show IPA Pronunciation, adjective, -er, -est, noun, adverb, conjunction, verb
–adjective
1. remaining in place or at rest; motionless; stationary: to stand still.
2. free from sound or noise, as a place or persons; silent: to keep still about a matter.
3. subdued or low in sound; hushed: a still, small voice.
4. free from turbulence or commotion; peaceful; tranquil; calm: the still air.
5. without waves or perceptible current; not flowing, as water.
6. not effervescent or sparkling, as wine.
7. Photography. noting, pertaining to, or used for making single photographs, as opposed to a motion picture.
–noun
8. stillness or silence: the still of the night.
9. Photography. a single photographic print, as one of the frames of a motion-picture film.
–adverb
10. at this or that time; as previously: Are you still here?
11. up to this or that time; as yet: A day before departure we were still lacking an itinerary.
12. in the future as in the past: Objections will still be made.
13. even; in addition; yet (used to emphasize a comparative): still more complaints; still greater riches.
14. even then; yet; nevertheless: to be rich and still crave more.
15. without sound or movement; quietly: Sit still!
16. at or to a greater distance or degree.
17. Archaic. steadily; constantly; always.
–conjunction
18. and yet; but yet; nevertheless: It was futile, still they fought.
–verb (used with object)
19. to silence or hush (sounds, voices, etc.).
20. to calm, appease, or allay: to still a craving.
21. to quiet, subdue, or cause to subside (waves, winds, commotion, tumult, passion, pain, etc.).
–verb (used without object)
22. to become still or quiet.
—Idiom
23. still and all, nonetheless; even with everything considered: Even though you dislike us, still and all you should be polite.
[Origin: bef. 900; (adj. and adv.) ME still(e), OE stille; (n.) ME: a calm, deriv. of the adj.; (v.) ME styllen, OE stillan; (conj.) deriv. of the adv.; akin to G still (adj.), stille (adv.), stillen (v.), D stil (adj. and adv.), stillen (v.); see stall1]
—Synonyms 1. unmoving, inert, quiescent. 2. soundless, mute. Still, quiet, hushed, noiseless, silent indicate the absence of noise and of excitement or activity accompanied by sound. Still indicates the absence of sound or movement: The house was still. Quiet implies relative freedom from noise, activity, or excitement: a quiet engine; a quiet vacation. Hushed implies the suppression of sound or noise: a hushed whisper. Noiseless and silent characterize that which does not reveal its presence or movement by any sound: a noiseless footstep; silent dissent. 4. pacific, placid, serene. 8. quiet, hush, calm. 18. See but1. 19. quiet, mute, stifle, muffle, smother. 20. soothe, pacify.
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"Not English, I presume."
No. I like the idea of being able to be employed in my field.
Your grasp of the language seems to be as tenuous as Vinny's and Harris'. Sleep a lot in class? |
