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Re: Kiss (was: Many Words for One Concept (was: Interesting Words))

From:laokou <laokou@...>
Date:Saturday, November 10, 2001, 22:23
From: "Christian Thalmann"

> These seem to be just about the only type distinctions that English > makes. French, the alleged language of love, is even worse: AFAIK > it only distinguishes "baiser" (non-romantic kiss) from "embrasser" > (romantic kiss), the latter of which also comprises the meaning > "embrace"! Isn't that pathetic? =P
Attention, mon vieux! "Un baiser", the noun, is "a kiss" (though I would hardly call the one in Rodin's sculpture "Le Baiser" 'non-romantic'), but the verb "baiser" has shifted meaning to mean, um, er, the F-word. "Embrasser" is the current verb for "kiss" and, for me, could range anywhere from planting a gooey wet one to the perfunctory 3-5 French pecks on the cheek. Other noun options are "la bise", "le bisou", and "le bécot". "(Se) bécoter" is akin to English "smooch". Kou

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Almaran Dungeonmaster <dungeonmaster@...>