Help with English

An old meaning of “large” use to be “free from restraining influence”, e.g. not in prison. So a murderer, who should be ideally be behind bars, would be considered “at large” if they had not yet been caught.
I think this phrase “at large” is probably the only time you’ll likely see this old meaning still used.
 
In the back of my mind I have a meaning of "the large" as the high seas but I can't track it down ,so maybe it doesn't exist.

There is "the main" and perhaps I am confusing it with that.
 
Sarkus said:
An old meaning of “large” use to be “free from restraining influence”, e.g. not in prison. So a murderer, who should be ideally be behind bars, would be considered “at large” if they had not yet been caught.
I think this phrase “at large” is probably the only time you’ll likely see this old meaning still used.
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"By and large" - meaning "in general".

By and large is originally a sailing term meaning "alternately close-hauled and not close-hauled." A ship that is sailing "close-hauled" is sailing as directly into the wind as possible (typically within about 45 degrees of the wind). The "by" part of the phrase means "close-hauled." (This "by" also appears in the term full and by, meaning "sailing with all sails full and close to the wind as possible.") "Large," by contrast, refers to a point of sail in which the wind is hitting the boat "abaft the beam," or behind the boat's widest point. A 1669 example of a variant spelling of "by and large" gives us a sense of the range implied: "Thus you see the ship handled in fair weather and foul, by and learge" (S. Sturmy, Mariners Magazine). The suggestion of a wide range carries over into the term's "in general" sense.
- https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/by and large
 
You forgot the accent over the first "e", but yes, they seem to be pronounced the same. At least in English. There may be some difference in French.
 
Sarkus said:
You forgot the accent over the first "e", but yes, they seem to be pronounced the same. At least in English. There may be some difference in French.
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Same in French (not sure btw whether the French are doing away with accents;there has been some talk recently)

I would be surprised if many English speakers knew about one "e" or two...
 
sideshowbob said:
Similarly with née. The word né exists but is not used in English.
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That's because it's so painful.


Khts+who+say+ni+description+during+the+scene+shortly+before_493f41_4806143.jpg
 
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