English Language & Usage Asked by user404142 on July 28, 2021
I have only ever seen the word defenestrate`used in relation to the act of throwing someone else out of the window. But would this verb be appropriate when referring to someone doing it themselves?
I do not see any etymological reason not to use it in such a way, and yet I’ve never seen it be used in this fashion.
For instance, if I were to disembark a bus through the window, could it be said, that I "defenestrated myself"? Or does the word imply sinistercriminal nature of the act?
I’ve seen mentions of an extremely rare usage of the word autodefenestration, but I feel like it is a bit of idiosyncratic solution.
The verb to defenestrate is usually transitive, but it can take a reflexive pronoun as a pseudo-object:
Roadwork: A Novel By Richard Bachman, Stephen King
Even in his dreams he thought he was awake, and in his dreams he committed suicide over and over; burned himself; bludgeoned himself by standing under an anvil and pulling a rope; ... shot himself ... defenestrated himself; ...
Return to Reichenbach By Geri Schear
I continued rifling through the papers. A name caught my eye. “Take a look at this, Watson,” I said, handing him the document.
“Carton? The fellow who defenestrated himself after changing his will and leaving his wife and son nothing.”
Correct answer by Greybeard on July 28, 2021
Get help from others!
Recent Questions
Recent Answers
© 2024 TransWikia.com. All rights reserved. Sites we Love: PCI Database, UKBizDB, Menu Kuliner, Sharing RPP