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Conference thebay::joyoflex

Title:The Joy of Lex
Notice:A Notes File even your grammar could love
Moderator:THEBAY::SYSTEM
Created:Fri Feb 28 1986
Last Modified:Mon Jun 02 1997
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:1192
Total number of notes:42769

690.0. "without = unless" by DOOZER::VTX (leon) Fri Jun 30 1989 19:17

    A usage of indeterminate origin, from the North of England.
    Can anybody explain its origin or provide other, similar (ie.
    a common word with a totally different and unique meaning).
    
    
    - <without>....meaning "unless"  (He can't be coming, without he's
                                      caught in the traffic.)
    
       
                 
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690.1PASTIS::MONAHANhumanity is a trojan horseSun Jul 02 1989 16:5412
    	A classic from Nottinghamshire is "while" meaning until.
    
    	When they first put level crossings for road and railway
    without barriers they put up signs "Wait while lights flash". The
    Nottinghamshire motorists dutifuly waited for the flashing lights, and
    then moved ahead into the path of the oncoming train.
    
    	After a few accidents and more near-accidents someone in authority
    discovered Nottinghamshire dialect, and all the signs were changed
    (throughout the country in case a Nottinghamshire tourist wandered
    abroad).