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Re: interactive help on the base object

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From Gregory Ewing <greg.ewing@canterbury.ac.nz>
Newsgroups comp.lang.python
Subject Re: interactive help on the base object
Date Mon, 09 Dec 2013 12:15:19 +1300
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Mark Janssen wrote:
> Mr. Ewing says "base" has to be interpreted as an *adjective* because
> otherwise it would mean the BOTTOM (like the BASE of the pyramid),

Not exactly -- a native English speaker would say something
like "the bottommost class" if that's what they meant.

Or they would say "the most basic class" to mean the simplest
one -- but that's not quite what we mean either.

The only way that "most base class" makes grammatical sense
is if you interpret "base" as meaning "undesirable", as in
"base metal" (i.e. a non-precious metal), "base instinct"
(the kind of animal urges that humans are meant to be too
good for), etc.

> while Terry responds that it is the TOP (*super*class).

Yeah, "top" or "bottom" only conveys the right idea if you
assume the diagram is drawn a particular way up. Which is
why I like the term "base class" -- you just need to be
careful with the grammar!

-- 
Greg

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Thread

interactive help on the base object Mark Lawrence <breamoreboy@yahoo.co.uk> - 2013-12-06 17:03 +0000
  Re: interactive help on the base object Gregory Ewing <greg.ewing@canterbury.ac.nz> - 2013-12-08 13:10 +1300
    Re: interactive help on the base object Ned Batchelder <ned@nedbatchelder.com> - 2013-12-07 19:59 -0500
    Re: interactive help on the base object Mark Janssen <dreamingforward@gmail.com> - 2013-12-07 20:21 -0800
      Re: interactive help on the base object Steven D'Aprano <steve+comp.lang.python@pearwood.info> - 2013-12-08 10:33 +0000
        Re: interactive help on the base object Mark Janssen <dreamingforward@gmail.com> - 2013-12-08 15:01 -0800
          Re: interactive help on the base object Steven D'Aprano <steve@pearwood.info> - 2013-12-09 05:11 +0000
            Re: interactive help on the base object Ned Batchelder <ned@nedbatchelder.com> - 2013-12-09 05:59 -0500
              Re: interactive help on the base object Steven D'Aprano <steve@pearwood.info> - 2013-12-10 03:19 +0000
                Re: interactive help on the base object rusi <rustompmody@gmail.com> - 2013-12-09 20:32 -0800
                Re: interactive help on the base object Steven D'Aprano <steve@pearwood.info> - 2013-12-10 05:10 +0000
                Re: interactive help on the base object rusi <rustompmody@gmail.com> - 2013-12-09 21:16 -0800
                Re: interactive help on the base object Roy Smith <roy@panix.com> - 2013-12-10 00:31 -0500
                Re: interactive help on the base object Steven D'Aprano <steve@pearwood.info> - 2013-12-10 06:05 +0000
                Re: interactive help on the base object Roy Smith <roy@panix.com> - 2013-12-10 01:20 -0500
                Re: interactive help on the base object Mark Lawrence <breamoreboy@yahoo.co.uk> - 2013-12-10 09:37 +0000
                Re: interactive help on the base object rusi <rustompmody@gmail.com> - 2013-12-10 03:51 -0800
                Re: interactive help on the base object alex23 <wuwei23@gmail.com> - 2013-12-11 12:04 +1000
                Re: interactive help on the base object Ian Kelly <ian.g.kelly@gmail.com> - 2013-12-10 04:35 -0700
        Re: interactive help on the base object Chris Angelico <rosuav@gmail.com> - 2013-12-09 13:44 +1100
        Re: interactive help on the base object Mark Janssen <dreamingforward@gmail.com> - 2013-12-08 19:05 -0800
        Re: interactive help on the base object Chris Angelico <rosuav@gmail.com> - 2013-12-09 14:17 +1100
        Re: interactive help on the base object Ian Kelly <ian.g.kelly@gmail.com> - 2013-12-09 03:12 -0700
        Re: interactive help on the base object Mark Lawrence <breamoreboy@yahoo.co.uk> - 2013-12-09 15:06 +0000
      Re: interactive help on the base object Gregory Ewing <greg.ewing@canterbury.ac.nz> - 2013-12-09 12:15 +1300
    Re: interactive help on the base object Ned Batchelder <ned@nedbatchelder.com> - 2013-12-08 07:11 -0500

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