Paphos man - is it good or bad? The meaning of the phrase

Very often in the speech of our contemporaries began to use the phrase "pathetic person." This expression is used by many people who do not even understand the meaning of the word "pathos" that gave rise to this phrase.

Pomposity in speech

Most likely, calling a person pretentious, the speakers have in mind some features of his character, manner of behavior, external style. First of all, the majority of the respondents gave such an explanation: "A pathetic person is an individual who loves and often uses beautiful ornate speech, sprinkled with high-flown phrases and words." An example of such a speech can serve as the appeal of Gayev - the hero of the Chekhov play called "The Cherry Orchard" - to the old cupboard. In fact, his trick can be defined as pathos, pompous, pretentious. Moreover, all three definitions are synonyms - as the explanatory and semantic dictionaries state. But can a person be called pretentious for his manner of expressing his thoughts?

Unlike others, standing out among all

Some people believe that a pathetic person is one that stands out among the whole of the people for its unusual, that is, bright, extraordinary, unlike the others. Thus, pathos can be called any genius - poet, musician, scientist. But this will be fundamentally wrong. A scientist, sitting in his laboratory for days at a time, forgetting to eat and wash, does this definition apply to him? Yes, and this artist, he is engaged in painting or jewelry business, sculpting sculptures or writing poetry, thinks little about himself at a time when creativity absorbs him with his head. And maybe, to call pretentious you need someone who tries to attract attention by any means?

Peposny person - is it pozyor?

But if the individual constantly behaves as if he plays a role in some pretentious film or play, if his speeches are excessively emotional and pompous if his antics are like a bad actor's play with his bombast and beating hypocrisy, his manner of dressing and Do you need to brush your hair so extravagantly that it causes shock to others? Perhaps this person can be called pretentious? And in general, what does "pathetic person" mean - the phrase, so often used in speech? Based on the semantic meanings of the root of the definition, pathos is passion, enthusiasm, enthusiasm, creative source, figuratively, falsity. If the definition of "false", "pompous" is applicable to a person, then it would seem, then, that the expression "paternal person" is acceptable in speech. But there are no false people, there are people whose behavior is insincere, hypocritical. Therefore, this expression should also be considered incorrect.

Three meanings of the adjective "pathos" - three uses

Some people call pretentious people for their manner of dressing, doing some strange things not by virtue of necessity or their own desire, but only in order to attract attention, "show off", as the current youth says. This is what "pathetic" means from the point of view of the semantics of this word according to the data of modern dictionaries:

1) enthusiastic, high-minded, solemn;

2) fake, sugary, hypocritical;

3) prestigious.

In the first sense, the adjective can refer to speech, behavior, artwork, a play or a film. In the second meaning, this word - sugary, hypocritical - can be correlated with a person. But in the third sense, it already seems to fit even to the subject: the car, the phone, the house. Therefore, modern words allow similar phrases that would previously have been inappropriate.