Is 'eke' actually a word?

[Liar]

When I watched some random election night coverage, I kept hearing about candidates that eked out victories in close races.

I was convinced the word they used was 'eeked', as in 'Eek! That was close!'

Apparently, I was wrong. So thank you for embiggening my vocabulary, generic American news person.

 

[TE999]

When I watched some random election night coverage, I kept hearing about candidates that eked out victories in close races.

I was convinced the word they used was 'eked', as in 'Eek! That was close!'

Apparently, I was wrong. So thank you for embiggening my vocabulary, generic American news person.

Here are the definitions and origins of the word 'eke'.

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/eke

 

[3113]

When I watched some random election night coverage, I kept hearing about candidates that eked out victories in close races.

I was convinced the word they used was 'eeked', as in 'Eek! That was close!'

Apparently, I was wrong. So thank you for embiggening my vocabulary, generic American news person.

Indeed, it is an English word and an old one at that. One "ekes" out a living, or "ekes" by. But i think in this case it might well have been a pun. Both "eke" and "eek!"

 

[Loring2]

Great

When I watched some random election night coverage, I kept hearing about candidates that eked out victories in close races.

I was convinced the word they used was 'eeked', as in 'Eek! That was close!'

Apparently, I was wrong. So thank you for embiggening my vocabulary, generic American news person.

Not only is eke a perfectly good word but in about a week or so, 'embiggerering" will be joining it. Man I wish I'd thought of it.

Good show.

 

[Handley_Page]

eke verb EKE OUT
1. eke out a living scrape, scratch, scrimp.
2. you must eke out the butter ration be economical with, economize on, be frugal/sparing with, husband; inf. go easy with.
3. eke out the meat with vegetables stretch out, add to, increase, supplement, augment, enlarge.

---------------------------------------------------------
Excerpted from Oxford Talking Dictionary
Copyright © 1998 The Learning Company, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

 

[ishtat]

When I watched some random election night coverage, I kept hearing about candidates that eked out victories in close races.

I was convinced the word they used was 'eeked', as in 'Eek! That was close!'

Apparently, I was wrong. So thank you for embiggening my vocabulary, generic American news person.

Arguably Liar it is several words OED, has the following definitions:-

1 A reinforcement of troops. OE

2 The tag end of a bell rope OE. The part below the sally.

3 A cylinder on which a beehive is placed to add to its capacity.

4 Also (commonly used in old ballads especially in the North of England.) ME

They all denote something in addition to... or spread out.

The Dictionary of archaic words says it also meant , to ease , to kill, to rid.

 

[TheeGoatPig]

Not only is eke a perfectly good word but in about a week or so, 'embiggerering" will be joining it. Man I wish I'd thought of it.

Good show.

It's perfectly cromulent.

 

[bronzeage]

Some words survive in usage because crossword puzzle editors cannot live without them.

 

[3113]

The Dictionary of archaic words says it also meant , to ease , to kill, to rid.

"The serial killer eked his forty-ninth victim...."

I dunno. Just doesn't work for me.

 

[English Lady]

*sings*
Eke out!
Le Eke c'#est Chic
Eke out!

Think it'll catch on?

 

[Liar]

Not only is eke a perfectly good word but in about a week or so, 'embiggerering" will be joining it. Man I wish I'd thought of it.

Good show.

Well, your typical English disctionary is descriptive, not prescriptive. I wouldn't be surprised if 'sexting' is in there already.

 

[CharleyH]

When I watched some random election night coverage, I kept hearing about candidates that eked out victories in close races.

I was convinced the word they used was 'eeked', as in 'Eek! That was close!'

Apparently, I was wrong. So thank you for embiggening my vocabulary, generic American news person.

*chuckles* 'Eke out', in that context to me, has always meant ... OMG! Tell me again what just happened? What! OMG! COOL! We can eat at Spago this year!

 

[Remec]

Well, your typical English disctionary is descriptive, not prescriptive. I wouldn't be surprised if 'sexting' is in there already.

If not already, it's bound to be on someone's short list of items for future consideration.

 

[3113]

I wouldn't be surprised if 'sexting' is in there already.

Meh. It doesn't have the staying power of "eke."

 

[Handley_Page]

"The serial killer eked his forty-ninth victim...."

I dunno. Just doesn't work for me.

"Eke out our imperfections. . . " (Shakespeare).

to issue in small quantity; with an element of reluctance.

to serve small (smaller than usual) portions of food.

 

[LaRocha]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BpAOC4h2_Zs&feature=related

 

[Xelebes]

Eke out = To be victorious by small margin
Eke by = subsist
Eke in = to enter by small margin

To me, it's a diminutive of win, the old definition whereby to win meant to struggle.

 

[ishtat]

I found it in Chaucer. "Eke therto he was right a mery man."(sic) in the sense of also.

Pope "Some patch'd dog-hole ek'd with ends of wall"(sic)

But the heir of eke we use frequently. Originally an Ekename was an additional name but an became a and ekename became nickname

 

[Xelebes]

It is also very close in sound to the word ac which a Swede should know as ok - meaning and.

 

[ishtat]

It is also very close in sound to the word ac which a Swede should know as ok - meaning and.

That's an interesting observation because as an English word it was originally restricted to speakers of northern dialect which in turn was heavily influenced by Danish and Scandinavian settlement wheras the south was settled by Anglo-Saxons with a significantly different vocabulary.

 

[Liar]

It is also very close in sound to the word ac which a Swede should know as ok - meaning and.

"och"

But close enough.

 

[3113]

"och"

But close enough.

"Och" sounds like "eke"?

 

[Xelebes]

"och"

But close enough.

Well, I was going with what I read in Erikskronikan which I found startlingly legible when I read it.