Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!swrinde!elroy.jpl.nasa.gov!usc!randvax!segue!jim From: jim@segue.segue.com (Jim Balter) Newsgroups: comp.unix.internals Subject: Re: POSIX bashing Message-ID: <7103@segue.segue.com> Date: 15 Apr 91 02:27:04 GMT References: <15621@smoke.brl.mil> <127225@uunet.UU.NET> <1991Apr2.033339.17048@dg-rtp.dg.com> <19145@rpp386.cactus.org> <7021@segue.segue.com> <2391@public.BTR.COM> Reply-To: jim@segue.segue.com (Jim Balter) Organization: Segue Software, Inc. - Santa Monica, CA. +1-213-453-2161 Lines: 29 In article <2391@public.BTR.COM> thad@public.BTR.COM (Thaddeus P. Floryan) writes: >Oh? > >append "xyz" to "ABC" gives "ABCxyz" >prepend "xyz" to "ABC" gives "xyzABC" > >Looks to me like "prepend" is the antonym of "append" and is not directly >related to "prefix" (whose antonym is "suffix). You seem to be arguing from your conclusion. "Looks like" based upon what? Certainly not the dictionary. Above you seem to be defining these words by example. You may *wish* that those examples defined the meanings, but that's about it. "prepend" is most certainly not an antonym for "append". And "suffix" is usually considered an antonym for "prefix" as *a noun*, although "suffix" can be used as an adjective, in place of "append". >If you can suggest or conjure-up a better "verb" to replace "prepend", I'm >sure the lexicographers would annoint you. :-) According to Random House: "prefix v.t. to fix or put before or in front: _to prefix an impressive title to one's name_". If you are looking for lexical consistency (a hopeless goal), you could use "postfix" in place of "append". postfix "xyz" to "ABC" gives "ABCxyz" prefix "xyz" to "ABC" gives "xyzABC"