Glyph and Polytheism

[Jacki]

Two apparently common words I’ve recently missed. Polytheism was the seed word two days ago in the ten letter puzzle.
I suppose I should have got it from a process of elimination, but gee whiz, I’ve never heard anyone say it, to my knowledge I’ve never read the word so on the average man in the street/pub test, it’s a far cry from common.

And as for glyph, again another word I drew a blank on in yesterday’s standard game. Hieroglyph is about as close as I’ve come to the word.
I’m not having a big whinge just having a muse. More words to add to my vocabulary!!

[Alan W]

I agree readily that glyph isn't common. It has a few meanings, but it seems to be used almost entirely in quite technical contexts. It will be treated as rare from now on.

But the idea of polytheism being rare surprises me a little. I would have thought most people would have come across terms like polytheism (belief in multiple gods), monotheism (belief in one god), atheism (belief in no god), along with, perhaps pantheism (belief in god as embodied in the whole universe, or the acceptance of all gods from all religions) and plain old theism (any belief in one or more gods). All these words are currently treated as common, and I'm inclined to leave that situation as it is. Anyone have any comments?

[pat]

While it's not a word that crops up in everyday language I agree that it's a word that most people would know so should remain common. It wouldn't make any sense to have all the 'theisms' bar one as common.

[ridethetalk]

FWIW. I've neither used polytheism nor seen it used...

[Jacki]

Wow given the status of the EAVES discussion, I’m thrilled to have a change on GLYPH from common to rare so quickly!

As for POLYTHEISM, as I said, I should have found it through a process of elimination, so if it stays common then that’s cool too.

[Maudland]

I’ve used polytheism before and no doubt will again, in discussion about different belief systems… Not every day! but am familiar enough with it and the other -theisms to think it merits common status. If that makes sense.

[Ozzyjack]

Although I have never studied Greek and can’t remember using Polytheism in conversation, I was quite familiar with it.  I would have thought that general reading would have given most forumites (who almost by definition have more interest in words and etymology than the average man in the street) a working knowledge of Greek and Latin roots.

So my comment is Polytheism should remain common.

[Alan W]

I'll leave polytheism as a common word.

[Jacki]

Fair enough. Thanks Alan.