Wednesday, May 22, 2024
Today, I am going to prove that the word “clinical” is happier than the phrase “canker sore.” While some words are strictly one extreme or the other (“hate,” “terrorism,” and “Covid-19” are negative, while “love,” “joy,” and “splendid” are positive), many words are mixed and can go both ways depending on the context. For example, we usually use “crazy” as an insult, but being “crazy for sports” means you really like sports.
“Clinical” usually means of or pertaining to a clinic. Vaccines are tested and approved through clinical trials. Although some dictionaries define “clinical” to be disapproving, meaning “coolly unemotional or detached,” it is actually more along the lines of “objective” or “analytical,” “not letting your emotions get in the way.” In sports, it is often a compliment, meaning done with excellence or precision.
“Canker sore” is strictly negative. Canker sores on the tongue are far worse!
On a scale of zero to one, where zero indicates absolute negativity and one indicates absolute positivity, here are the definitions for both expressions. A score of 0.5 is a neutral rating.
- Clinical:
- 1) Of, relating to, or connected with a clinic. [0.525000]
- 10) Involving or based on direct observation of a patient. [0.525000]
- 11) Emotionally detached; objective; analytical. [0.512500]
- 100) Done or performed with excellence and precision. [1.000000] (Extremely Positive Sense)
- Canker Sore: A common condition characterized by the repeated formation of benign and non-contagious mouth ulcers (aphthae) in otherwise healthy individuals. [0.150000]
Sources[edit]
- “[ ]” — e.g. December 31, 1999
- “[ ]” —
