Compared to other languages, English is amazingly creative with collective nouns for groups of animals, and efforts abound to make up funny ones for groups of people (and objects.)
Another name for these (well, for the original ones for animals) is terms of venery, from the Old French word venerie "the hunt, the chase" from Latin venari "to hunt". Notice it's not the same word as the one that comes from equally Latin Venus. So let's not go off on a tangent.
What collective noun would be appropriate for Gather members (gatherers, or whatever your favorite term is)?
Are we like a pride of lions?
Or a gaggle of geese?
Or perhaps a murder of crows?
What would you call a gathering of gatherers?
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Comments: 81
Populace is good too, though I feel it's often a negative word, Marilee. That's the formation that does the silly or dangerous or unpredictable things, the entity that needs to be controlled. But surely you did not mean that....
I'd be satisfied with "pile."
The two veneries are homonyms. They ended up sounding the same but they come from different roots. Of course, I have no idea which venery you would have done your wondering about.
But one of them does come from "veneris."
Pile is a good, strong word. Simple, without fluff or fancification.
When I go through the link I can't see it either
a post of gatherers
an article of gatherers
hm....a sheaf of gatherers?
First off, I am an amateur geologist in the purest sense: I love rocks! So, the term 'aggregate' is familiar to me for its geological application: "Composed of distinct minerals separable by mechanical means." (definition 3 of "aggregate" from The Reader's Digest Great Encyclopedic Dictionary, c1966, which goes on to clarify this word by looking at the synonyms aggregate, agglomerate, and conglomerate, which all mean 'gathered together in a mass.'
Aggregate is distinguished as being applied to a mass that is closely compacted enough that it is considered/seen as a whole without losing the identity of its parts.
Sorry about that orphaned parenthesis.
I posted a question in an article, maybe someone will find me an answer
I really like aggregate, Dannielle, and the geological explanation that goes with it. (And orphaned parentheses are what I do best, apart from multiple orphaned parentheses.
But Dame Ruth's confusion of confabulators is a good one. It may not cover everyone on the site though. There's always a possibility of some gatherites not confabulating (much).
So I won't close the case yet....
Galaxy if gatherers is good, Weaver, in an idealistic sci-fi way.... So is hodgepodge, though is doesnt' have the g's and a's that aggregate (and galaxy) offers. But it's not often that a god comments on my threads, so I'll have to put it among the winners still....
Post is good too--sounds like host. Few people publish actual articles, so I'm not sure about that one....
Angry mob is too obvious, guys.
I'll try to fing your article later, Nicole. Gotta rush now. Kids' dance rehearsal, followed by the performance....
I have heard of kindle of kittens, but never a clowder. (And I heard kindle in a quiz question that clearly only very smart people were expected to get. I didn't know it before then....)
Deb, that's a good one, but it doesn't apply to a majority, I think.
Somehow the link coding got scrambled up in my excitement. (Actually I copy and pasted it from someone else, but I'm sure it's my incompetence as a Gatherer that caused the issue to begin with)
Anyway, here's a copy of the information K so kindly shared with me. Oddly he's cross dressing today.
This article would have been delightfully funny to add to your question. However, after all this craziness and my need for re-education in the fine art of link making...well it lost it's fire.
Still the article below was one of my happy memories of a Gather that used to be. ENJOY
Link to be posted momentarily after I review my lab coat clad tutors instructions.
(and yes I do need a nap)
I did it I did it I did it
I did not see Pallet of Gatherers suggested so I will paint myself into a corner with that colorful concept.
The trouble is, it's hard to find impartial judges, since by necessity people either don't know what they're talking about, or they do, and in that case they are going to take sides on certain issues. :-)
My thoughts, such as they are.
We're really just throwing out ideas here for fun, and there are many more than two possibilities....
:-)
Don't know if there's a party anywhere. I have hundreds of emails to read through though.
That, and J. G☼lden's excellent suggestion inspired me: how about a bluff of Gatherers?
BONGO MIRROR, May 29, 2007, 2:00am EDT
Can I say LOL? Is the Great Dame around?
(We must keep those nuts somewhere until there's enough to cash in...)
(see May 5, 2007, 2:55am EDT)
'An unkindness of...' - as in the collective noun for a group of ravens?!
(A rant of? An ego of?)
I can imagine the scene, Ishbel...
But what about an irony of gatherers?
Somehow, that's the word that comes to mind this morning.
a flare up of gatherers
Ishbel, I've heard Americans complain that with you Bri... er, people from the British Isles, one never knows when you're being ironic and when you're serious. I think it's a matter of the degree to which irony is "marked". Your irony is more understated and harder to detect.
My trouble is the opposite: I frequently hear statements as being ironic even when they're earnest. I like to blame this on growing up in an ironic place at an ironic time, but more than likely I'm just messed up.
Good recovery there on the 'Bri..'!
And yes, Aniko...The great Dame IS around, so you know that LOL has raised a rack of ire, to say nothing of having violated my permanent restraining order. Fie!
I think Wendy was going to suggest "gaggle" but in the end she didn't, so it's still open, as is "giggle". But your previous suggestion, "confusion of confabulators," is still in the lead, I think.
Isn't there a statute of limitations on acronymic offenses? If not, can I serve the sentence for this one and for the pink sparkly ping concurrently?