Macmillan Holdings, LLC. Grammar Girl, Grammar Girl's, QDnow, and Quick and Dirty Tips are all trademarks of Macmillan Holdings, LLC. Words that only have negative connotations. Fjido grammar Why isn't "gruntled" a word? Well, the answer to that is that... well.. it is. Perhaps not in American English, but certainly in Standard English. Bruce, you are quite right about the prefix 'dis', but you are quite wrong about the meaning of the word 'gruntled'. Not only is it a recognised word, but a positive one at that, simply meaning pleased or satisfied. While 'grunt' and 'gruntle' certainly form part of the etymology of this word, the frequentative conjugation would not technically apply as 'gruntled' is in the participial form. Please see the excerpt from the latest version of the Oxford English Dictionary below: (I think it is safe to refer to them as a reliable resource... ;j) gruntled, ppl. a. Pleased, satisfied, contented. 1938 WODEHOUSE Code of Woosters i. 9 He spoke with a certain what-is-it in his voice, and I could see that, if not actually disgruntled, he was far from being gruntled. 1962 C. ROHAN Delinquents 76 Come on, Brownie darling, be gruntled. 1966 New Statesman 11 Nov. 693/2 An action against a barrister for negligence..would open the door to every disgruntled client. Now gruntled clients are rare in the criminal courts. 1967 E. MCGIRR Hearse with Horses i. 17 The Agency has a nice file of gruntled exes who have found their talents in a great variety of jobs. http://grammar.quickanddirtytips.com/why-isnt-gruntled-a-word.aspx?commentid=17163#Comments http://grammar.quickanddirtytips.com/why-isnt-gruntled-a-word.aspx?commentid=17163#Comments Tue, 26 May 2009 12:27:20 GMT Nikki grammar awesome http://grammar.quickanddirtytips.com/why-isnt-gruntled-a-word.aspx?commentid=14386#Comments http://grammar.quickanddirtytips.com/why-isnt-gruntled-a-word.aspx?commentid=14386#Comments Sat, 18 Oct 2008 16:23:28 GMT Engruntled Reader grammar And This, dear readers, for your Further Engruntlement: The Eggcorn Database. Google that ( many of you probably knew about it, already :) and engoy, ye numerous heathens... ( 'tis simply a similar enjoyment, 'tis all :) http://grammar.quickanddirtytips.com/why-isnt-gruntled-a-word.aspx?commentid=14138#Comments http://grammar.quickanddirtytips.com/why-isnt-gruntled-a-word.aspx?commentid=14138#Comments Wed, 01 Oct 2008 04:09:41 GMT Tom grammar Anyone who enjoyed this episode will get a kick out of this short piece (taken from The New Yorker): http://beebo.org/smackerels/how-i-met-my-wife.html http://grammar.quickanddirtytips.com/why-isnt-gruntled-a-word.aspx?commentid=14135#Comments http://grammar.quickanddirtytips.com/why-isnt-gruntled-a-word.aspx?commentid=14135#Comments Wed, 01 Oct 2008 00:40:08 GMT Bonnie Trenga grammar Guest-writer Bonnie here. Thanks, Bruce, for illuminating things. I'm sad to report I am not perfect. I am quite disgruntled about that! If anyone can recommend a good etymological dictionary, I'd like to get one. http://grammar.quickanddirtytips.com/why-isnt-gruntled-a-word.aspx?commentid=14125#Comments http://grammar.quickanddirtytips.com/why-isnt-gruntled-a-word.aspx?commentid=14125#Comments Tue, 30 Sep 2008 20:47:49 GMT Bruce grammar Unfortunately, you are quite mistaken about the meaning of "dis-"" The prefix "dis" does not always function as a negative. It can be used as an intensifier. That is the case with "disgruntled". "Gruntled" already meant "angry" or "complaining" -- related to the word "grunt". "Disgruntled" meant "VERY gruntled." So, if you want to refer to an employee who is unhappy, but not quite so much as the other 'disgruntled' ones you might resurrect the old word and call him "gruntled"! (Actually, the "-le" ending on a verb like this makes it "frequentative", that is, it refers to a repeated action. So 'gruntle', like 'grumble' suggests incessant complaining!) http://www.word-detective.com/081203.html http://www.webster.com/dictionary/disgruntle http://grammar.quickanddirtytips.com/why-isnt-gruntled-a-word.aspx?commentid=14115#Comments http://grammar.quickanddirtytips.com/why-isnt-gruntled-a-word.aspx?commentid=14115#Comments Tue, 30 Sep 2008 12:21:04 GMT Chelsey Jackson grammar She Crazy!! but she makes learing interesting. i like how she phrases things to make it interesting to learn about. http://grammar.quickanddirtytips.com/why-isnt-gruntled-a-word.aspx?commentid=14108#Comments http://grammar.quickanddirtytips.com/why-isnt-gruntled-a-word.aspx?commentid=14108#Comments Mon, 29 Sep 2008 23:18:40 GMT Alejandro Campos grammar This episode on grammar girl is about words that have a negative connotation or making a word have a negative connoatation by changing the predix such as dis, non, un, or anti. 1.I was displeased when I found out I got a "C" on my book report. 2.I was angry today because my friend was being dishonest with me about using my math book. http://grammar.quickanddirtytips.com/why-isnt-gruntled-a-word.aspx?commentid=14087#Comments http://grammar.quickanddirtytips.com/why-isnt-gruntled-a-word.aspx?commentid=14087#Comments Sun, 28 Sep 2008 18:53:13 GMT Terence Martin grammar Fun episode! I will often words like gruntled and sheveled just for the fun of it. I supposed it all stems from my 10th grade honors English teacher who would tell us to "couth up!" (To which some of us would add things like, "OK, I've recouthed" Those types of constructions led us to creating many non-standard singulars and plurals. Some of my favorites: 1 Kleenex, many Kleenices; many broccoli, one broccolus. http://grammar.quickanddirtytips.com/why-isnt-gruntled-a-word.aspx?commentid=14077#Comments http://grammar.quickanddirtytips.com/why-isnt-gruntled-a-word.aspx?commentid=14077#Comments Fri, 26 Sep 2008 17:22:40 GMT Tue, 26 May 2009 12:27:20 GMT http://grammar.quickanddirtytips.com/why-isnt-gruntled-a-word.aspx feedback@quickanddirtytips.com (Managing Editor) feedback@quickanddirtytips.com (Webmaster) en-us