We are used to the fact that the word that got into our networks most often means a technical malfunction, marriage. If you talk about a person in such a spirit, it means to greatly humiliate his dignity. Yes, from such vague reasoning it is difficult to understand what will be discussed today. In the zone of special attention is the "defect", we will consider this noun.
Origin
Usually the part of the story is clear. But this is not our case today. There are similar words in three languages at once:
- defekt (German);
- defect (Dutch);
- defectus (Latin).
Moreover, the borrowing version organically includes all three possible sources. It is clear that Latin is a defective distant ancestor, and the rest of the possibilities are divided approximately 50/50, given our close ties with both the Dutch and the Germans in the era of Peter. One thing is clear: the word is not of Slavic origin. Since the dictionary does not give preference to anyone, the reader canchoose the language that suits him best. But if you are asked, tell the truth that the dictionary has perfect parity in this regard.
Yes, I almost forgot to mention the meaning given by the etymological dictionary: “lack, flaw.”
Meaning and sentences
From the affairs of the past, we turn to the affairs of the present. To find out the meaning of the word "defect" in the modern interpretation, you need to pick up another dictionary - an explanatory one. The latter always helps to navigate in the sea of meanings and contents of language units. Therefore, of course, we will not disdain his help. So, a defect is “a defect, a defect, a shortcoming”. In this case, both dictionaries agree in their opinion regarding the object of study.
Since it's always easier to imagine and understand a word based on context, let's make up some characteristic sentences, like this:
- You ask me why I'm so sad? But imagine, I ordered, which means an inflatable mattress, went to the sea, inflated it, swam behind the buoys, and take it and start suddenly lowering it, but I don’t know how to swim, it’s good that some man was swimming nearby, he and towed me to shore. Yes, such a defect could cost me my life. Now it won't be long before I want to go to the sea.
- The car is, of course, good, but the horn does not work. And this is a defect, I'm sorry, so make a discount, please.
- My cat has a manufacturing defect: she doesn't meow.
Technical meaning of the noun
Notice that in the last sentence, the combination of a living object (cat) with an almost technical term ("defect") creates a humorous effect. Therefore, we would look at a person who expresses himself in such a way with suspicion. This is because the glory of the word is attached to the noun, which defines various failures and breakdowns in machines. Thus, it cannot be said that the child has a defect in education; rather, he has a lack of the same. Despite the original meaning of borrowing, our noun has specialized.
And this, by the way, makes it clear why the adjective "defective" is a curse word when it is addressed to a man or woman. First, of course, one cannot point out to a person his obvious shortcomings, for we do not choose too much when we come into this world; secondly, and this is a more subtle observation, the very comparison of a man with a machine is insulting. As if the former is a tool for some specific purpose. A person has no such goal. Yes, sometimes, when some functions of the body are disturbed, they talk about a defect, but you can’t talk about “breakage” in relation to the whole person - this is disrespect.
Okay, anyway, this is not a very simple answer to the question of what a defect is. We tried to explain to the reader all the subtleties and even give him the opportunity to look at the noun from an unexpected angle.
