Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Language/2013 August 7

= August 7 =

plain public road
I'm not sure of the meaning of one word in a line from "Leaves of Grass":"My left hand hooks you round the waist, my right hand points to landscapes of continents, and a plain public road." Here, does "plain" mean even or flat? It is polysemous and the suggested meaning is archaic. So I need your confirmation. Thanks a lot! — Preceding unsigned comment added by 114.251.216.209 (talk) 05:32, 7 August 2013 (UTC)


 * No, I am pretty sure from context that the meaning of "plain" here is ordinary, simple, undecorated. If it meant even or flat it would be "plane". Gandalf61 (talk) 10:53, 7 August 2013 (UTC)
 * While I agree with what you say, Salisbury Plain is called that because it's (relatively) flat rather than because it's simple or ordinary. Alansplodge (talk) 11:45, 7 August 2013 (UTC)
 * Yes, a plain (noun) is a flat region of land, but in the context given the word is an adjective, and therefore almost certainly means ordinary etc. Gandalf61 (talk) 12:01, 7 August 2013 (UTC)
 * I'd suggest that a more likely (or at least a possible) meaning in Whitman's line is sense 3 under "Eymology 1: Adjective" on the Wiktionary page: "manifest, obvious, clear, unmistakable". Deor (talk) 12:20, 7 August 2013 (UTC)
 * I think it's entirely possible he had all three connotations; simple, flat and manifest in mind. Poet, you know. μηδείς (talk) 18:13, 9 August 2013 (UTC)

Addon
So, I came across our article Addon (from 2002!). It says, "Addon (Hebrew: אַדּוֹן‎)- low, one of the persons named in the Neh. 7:61 [...]" Reading the relevant verse, it seems Addon is a place name, and no one's mentioned by name. The reference is Easton's Bible Dictionary (1897)/Addon: "Addon Low, one of the persons named in Neh. 7:61 [...]". What's going on here? (And no, I'm not a regular bible reader.) — Lfdder (talk) 09:00, 7 August 2013 (UTC)
 * ad fontes: Wikisource's source is Addon at Easton's Bible Dictionary. There are other bible dictionaries available online like Nave's Topical Bible, referencing ADDAN "- Also called ADDON, uncertain whether person or town Ezr 2:59; Ne 7:61". Or Smith's Bible Dictionary, referencing Addan "(strong or stony), one of the places from which some of the captivity returned with Zerubbabel to Judea who could not show their pedigree as Israelites. (Ezra 2:59) Called Addon (Nehemiah 7:61)". Interestingly, Ezra matches Nehemia, whereas Ezra has Addan, Nehemia Addon. Wonder how this works if they did not write vowels in Hebrew. In my humble opinion (not a bible expert) these should be places in the Jewish exile, wherever that was, and if so, there should be a chance to identify them. --Pp.paul.4 (talk) 12:14, 7 August 2013 (UTC)
 * In the Greek Bible (Septuagint) it's called Ἠρών in Neh. 7:61, but Ἡδάν in Ezra 2:59. Confusion abound. But I don't see how/where it could be confused with a person's name. — Lfdder (talk) 12:43, 7 August 2013 (UTC)
 * Here a more detailed comparison of Ezra 2:59 vs. Neh. 7:61 including the Hebrew text. --Pp.paul.4 (talk) 18:57, 7 August 2013 (UTC)