[Vocabulary] retired nook

[mmasny]

Hi, what's a retired nook?

 

[Anglika]

Without context, a space into which people can retire and not be observed.


By the way, in answer to the thread you deleted, see: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anthropomorphic_personifications_(Discworld)#The_Hogfather

 

[euncu]

Without context, a space into which people can retire and not be observed.

Then, shouldn't it be retired's nook?

 

[mmasny]

Without context, a space into which people can retire and not be observed.

Thank you, that makes sense. Can you please tell me how the phrase came to life? It looks like 'a nook that retired' which seems nonsensical to me. Is it simply 'a nook of the retired'?

 

[stanislaw.masny]

I think that ANGELIKA is right. In another words: "a secluded spot" .

 

[Raymott]

M-W

Main Entry: retired
Function: adjective
Date: 1590
1 : secluded <a retired village>
2 : withdrawn from one's position or occupation

A retired nook is a secluded corner of somewhere. It's possible that people could retire to the nook, but I doubt whether that's the primary meaning, and a retired nook does not have to admit people. (My cat has several retired nooks that I wouldn't fit into).

One could describe a 'hidden cave' as a cave that people could hide in. But that's not a definition. It's only hidden because it's hidden from people, and hence if people are in it, they are hidden from other people too. It might not be a hidden cave to bats, and therefore bats could not hide in it from other bats.