what is UP with these two English words? (1 Viewer)

[StrayMixx]

well, four if you count both forms I'm referring to. lol there's spectacle and then there's miracle... BUTTTTTTTTTT the adjective for spectacle is spectacular and the adjective for miracle is miraculous... should we blame the French? lol (hey, @Ahsoka - here's your next thread! *nudge nudge*)

 

[Selfmate]

English is a stupid language

(that I'm trying to teach my kids since one is in school and one is about to start school)

so many exceptions and then so many sight words...

 

[Ahsoka]

Spectacular takes the -ar ending because it means referring to, like the words linear (referring to a line) and cardiovascular (referring to the heart). Miraculous takes the ending -ous because it means full of. Like the words arduous (full of ardor) and nervous (full of nerves). Both suffixes are Latin in origin, but they mean different things.