Re: Electrocution

Athel Cornish-Bowden wrote:
ke10@xxxxxxxxx said:
Don Phillipson wrote:

You may find that most Americans use the noun
electrocution to mean death by electric shock, while
many Britons use the verb electrocute to mean suffering
a significant shock, not necessarily fatal.

Really? I have never heard it used to mean other than a fatal shock.

Me neither.

I have, and I'm a Leftpondian. In fact, I had to reeducate my offspring, who had learned it from their mother, who experienced what she called an electrocution and lived to tell the story. It was a rather painful experience, though. I don't know the fine details, but it involved putting up a TV antenna on the roof, near some electrical wires. It was well after our marriage had ended.
--
Skitt (AmE)



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Relevant Pages

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  • Re: Electrocution
    ... electrocution to mean death by electric shock, ... many Britons use the verb electrocute to mean suffering ... a significant shock, not necessarily fatal. ...
    (alt.usage.english)
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    ... many Britons use the verb electrocute to mean suffering ... a significant shock, not necessarily fatal. ... electrocution and lived to tell the story. ...
    (alt.usage.english)
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