Difference between revisions of "Cosy - cozy"
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**The spellings '''colsie''', '''cosie''', and '''cozie''' are also recorded in Scots. | **The spellings '''colsie''', '''cosie''', and '''cozie''' are also recorded in Scots. | ||
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| + | ***Two comparatively informal (non-academic) words also exist: | ||
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| + | ****As a [[noun]], '''cosy''' may denote | ||
| + | *****a, usually quilted, textil;e covering to maintain the heat of the thing covered, such as a '''tea-cosy''' over a tea-pot, or an '''egg-cosy''' over a boiled egg. | ||
| + | *****a seat for two, often in a corner of the room. | ||
| + | ****As a [[verb]], 'to '''cosy'''<nowiki>'</nowiki> forms two [[phrasal verb]]s: | ||
| + | *****'to cosy along' means to comfort or to reassure, often with a [[pejorative]] sense of deluding, 'lulling into a false sense of security' | ||
| + | *****'to cosy up to someone' is [[literal]]ly 'to snuggle up', 'to move close to another on a seat [with a sense of friendship and warmth]'; more [[figurative]]ly, it is 'to ingratiate oneself with someone, usually with an ulterior motive'. | ||
[[Category:spelling]] | [[Category:spelling]] | ||
[[Category:alternative spellings]] | [[Category:alternative spellings]] | ||
[[Category:AmE]] | [[Category:AmE]] | ||
| + | [[Category:clarification of meanings]] | ||
Latest revision as of 16:00, 10 August 2020
The two spellings cosy and cozy are simply variant spellings of the same adjective. They are pronounced the same way, with usual transatlantic variation. The root meaning is 'comfortable' because warm and snug and well-sheltered.
- Cosy is the spelling preferred in British academic English - where cozy is not wrong. It is pronounced 'CO-zy', IPA: /ˈkəʊ zɪ/.
- Cozy is the spelling preferred in American English - where cosy is not wrong. It is pronounced 'CO-zy', IPA: /ˈkoʊ zɪ/.
- The spellings colsie, cosie, and cozie are also recorded in Scots.
- Two comparatively informal (non-academic) words also exist:
- As a noun, cosy may denote
- a, usually quilted, textil;e covering to maintain the heat of the thing covered, such as a tea-cosy over a tea-pot, or an egg-cosy over a boiled egg.
- a seat for two, often in a corner of the room.
- As a verb, 'to cosy' forms two phrasal verbs:
- 'to cosy along' means to comfort or to reassure, often with a pejorative sense of deluding, 'lulling into a false sense of security'
- 'to cosy up to someone' is literally 'to snuggle up', 'to move close to another on a seat [with a sense of friendship and warmth]'; more figuratively, it is 'to ingratiate oneself with someone, usually with an ulterior motive'.
- As a noun, cosy may denote
