as one who uses pseudo often enoughspudiferAugust 28 2004, 21:57:21 UTC
The word "pseudo" has brought to my attention that it feels as if it's being treated unfairly.
According to the Mirriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary, the word "pseudo" is an adjective meaning "being apparently rather than actually as stated." A related word, "spurious," also means "outwardly similar or corresponding to something without having its genuine qualities."
In other words... to simplify... a pseudo dragon (in Advanced Dungeons & Dragons) is one that appears to be a dragon but is not. "Pseudo plans" (which is something that I have this coming weekend) are plans that appear to exist but really don't. And a "pseudo sister" (such as one of my younger sister's friends who she isn't really friends with any more but I still keep in touch with... essentially, she's been unofficially adopted by me as a second younger sister) would be one who appears to be a sister but really isn't.
In general, I've not ever come across the word used in context for a "substitute," but, rather, always in some relation to something that is so close to being something that it almost could be (or is even mistaken to be) yet does not fully fit the definition of its non-pseudo counterpart. Pseudo stuff are things unto themselves as opposed to things that replace other things. They are neither inherently and automatically good nor bad. They just are what they are.
Now, this pseudo artist is off to twiddle her thumbs a bit.
According to the Mirriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary, the word "pseudo" is an adjective meaning "being apparently rather than actually as stated." A related word, "spurious," also means "outwardly similar or corresponding to something without having its genuine qualities."
In other words... to simplify... a pseudo dragon (in Advanced Dungeons & Dragons) is one that appears to be a dragon but is not. "Pseudo plans" (which is something that I have this coming weekend) are plans that appear to exist but really don't. And a "pseudo sister" (such as one of my younger sister's friends who she isn't really friends with any more but I still keep in touch with... essentially, she's been unofficially adopted by me as a second younger sister) would be one who appears to be a sister but really isn't.
In general, I've not ever come across the word used in context for a "substitute," but, rather, always in some relation to something that is so close to being something that it almost could be (or is even mistaken to be) yet does not fully fit the definition of its non-pseudo counterpart. Pseudo stuff are things unto themselves as opposed to things that replace other things. They are neither inherently and automatically good nor bad. They just are what they are.
Now, this pseudo artist is off to twiddle her thumbs a bit.
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