Ree: twee (was Re: Parseltongue)

Padraic Brown wrote:


>--- Jeffrey Henning <Jeffrey@...> wrote:
>
>> but it was so twee I gave
>
>Er. What is "twee"? I knew a girl named Twee, but
>I've never heard of the word otherwise.
>
Astonishing!! A Britishism that you don't know!??  Thanks to Tim May for
giving the Official Definition(s).

I have to confess, the word was utterly unknown to me until 10-12 years ago,
when my then-roommate's "New Yorker" was on the bathroom reading-list. It
occurred at least once per issue, in the fine-print reviews of plays, art
exhibitions etc.  Had to figure it out from context, and decided that it
was, like obscenity, somewhat difficult to define precisely, but one knew it
when one saw it. Though it is useful, I don't think I've ever used
it....Perhaps one could also say "campy", or "elegant kitsch" but those
don't capture all the connotations either.........

"Tonstant weader fwowed up" --Dorothy Parker

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