The Old Gray Mare

One author’s lighthearted observation of the word RUN



Posted: Wednesday, September 07, 2011

by The Old Gray Mare
www.DressYourHorse.com

The English language has always fascinated me – particularly since it is “simply complex.”

For example, take the tiny word run. R-U-N. This basic three-letter word is easy to pronounce, consists only of one syllable and is taught to youngsters in First Grade. Who can forget the famous line “See Spot Run”?

Simple enough! That is until one glance into Websters. Suddenly, this itsy bitsy sum of three letters becomes a giant – complex and diverse in usage and meaning.

As a Verb, R-U-N accounts for a plethora of definitions. The primary definition is “go faster than walking.” It could mean:

    To hasten – run to a person’s aid;
    To flee – run for your life;
    To perform – run errands;
    To creep, climb – vines run along the sides of the road;

Or

    To pursue, chase – run a fox.

But it could also mean:

    To conduct, manage – run a business;
    To go without restraint – run wild;
  
And

    To smuggle – run rum.

In run-of-the mill, its use is as an adjective defined as ordinary. In run-on it means continuing without rhetorical pause.

And how about runaway.

    The runaway is a fugitive (one word, used as noun);
    The runaway fugitive was never found (one word, used as adjective);
    The child has run away (back to verb).

Imagine for a minute you are a computer programmer. Your assignment is to teach the computer all the meanings, derivatives and every possible use of the word run. A formidable task, is it not? Especially when you consider the power of your brain.

I knew I was allotted a run of 2 minutes, but my run-on notes ran afoul of the running clock, causing me to run the risk of running out of time, which automatically makes me a run-of-the-mill runner up to my running mates in this run of competitions.

Small but mighty is the word R-U-N. It is a simple word and yet it is complex. See for yourself in the various meanings of this three-letter word:

·    Dash
·    Fly
·    Rush
·    Scamper
·    Scoot
·    Scurry
·    Sprint
·    Bolt
·    Clear Out
·    Get Out
·    Come In
·    Finish
·    Place
·    Work
·    Administer
·    Administrate
·    Direct
·    Govern
·    Head
·    Manage
·    Superintend
·    Operate
·    Handle
·    Use
·    Extend
·    Carry
·    Go
·    Lead
·    Reach
·    Stretch
·    Smuggle
·    Bootleg
·    Contraband
·    Continuance
·    Chain
·    Round
·    Series
·    String
·    Succession
·    Train

Taken from the winning speech given by Heidi Rucki at a northeast statewide competition.
Heidi Rucki brings expertise as a horsewoman, dog lover and stained glass/mosaic artist. She is an accomplished freelance writer in the horse industry. Writing online as The Old Gray Mare, many of her current articles can be found on www.DressYourHorse.com. In the past, Rucki wrote for numerous horse organizations including The Connecticut Horse Council. She took early retirement from Phoenix Home Life where she wrote mutual fund prospectuses and was responsible for their submissions to the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Old Gray Mare writes to share knowledge and her love of horses for everyone but especially for novice and new horse owners. Besides her two main websites, she has recently published three new blog sites. Of those, her favorite is www.BeautyOfHorses.com.
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