reconnoitre
verb
explore, often with the goal of finding something or somebody [syn: scout]
WordNet® 3.0, © 2006 by Princeton University.
My path Tuesday led me to converse with a lawyer. He needed information on my company. I'm guessing he's in his late 20s or early 30s. I told him I would reconnoitre with my boss and get back with him when I had concrete details. He said "what's that? I've never heard that word before."
I said "Seriously? How old are you? Have you studied warfare or history or anything? It's a French word for finding stuff. What are they teaching kids in school these days?"
He then looked it up on his computer somewhere and read a definition that seemed to make me sound like a dork who didn't know what the word meant. After we got off the phone, I sent him an email with the information he sought, along with the cutting above from dictionary.com and I said "this is what I meant."
Out walking the bunnydog tonight, I recounted this convo to husband, and I said I'd pointed out to the lawyer that lots of war-related terminology was French. Husband said "because they've lost so many times."
Makes sense. I suppose a doormat knows a shoe when it sees one.
What am amusing story. Your husband is right about the French. I can say that as I've got a little in me. Don't tell!
ReplyDeleteThe lawyer needs to go back to school.
I guess having a law degree doesn't necessarily mean you're educated.
ReplyDeleteWell, if he's coming after you, you obviously have nothing to fear.
ReplyDeleteStupid wireless died on me as I was sending my comment and I've forgotten what I was saying, other than the fact I am stealing your doormat statement for a quote.
ReplyDeleteUmmm... never seen that word until today..... but I do use 'reconnaissance' a lot. Rita, classy people like yourself must also know 'vernissage'? That was my new word of the day.
ReplyDeletelainy - them lawyers ain't so smart...
ReplyDeletekevin - I'd say not...
dick - You know how it is 'cause I suspect it's the same for you - if your Dad is the kind of man he ought to be, you grow up not afraid of much. (except getting in trouble with dad!)
barbara - You know, that just popped into my head as I was writing the ending flourish - I've thought back several times and it gets funnier & funnier to me. Yes, steal away, darling!
meg - yup, it's related-- all those recon thingies. I've seen "vernissage" but never knew what it meant until you inspired me to look it up today! When I've seen it before, I had pretty much always glossed over it *tee hee*
What an idiot! Him, of course, not you, Dear Lady! I knew that word in Jr. High, for Gawd's sake.
ReplyDeletePeople with even a college, much less an advanced degree should know that word. How did he ever pass the L-SAT with such a limited vocabulary?
great ending sentence...and i've had that same situation as well.
ReplyDeletea friend of mine didn't know who kathleen turner was...i have a sore throat and told my friend i sounded like kathleen turner, and he said "who's that?"
*sigh*
hollyb - you WOULD know that word in Jr high. I have no ideer how he passed the L-SAT - prolly stared it down.
ReplyDeletesudiegirl - thanks! Imagine - someone not knowing Kathleen Turner - strange!