Farside is not a word in my dictionary

[John Kierein2]

The Merriam Webster says it's far side. Also the comic strip is Far Side. But farsighted is a word. Also fart.

[John Kierein2]

https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap190105.html

[neufer]

https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap190105.html

Indeed... should be two words and not capitalized.

https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap161230.html

[Chris Peterson]

The Merriam Webster says it's far side. Also the comic strip is Far Side. But farsighted is a word. Also fart.

With respect to the English language, dictionaries are descriptive, not prescriptive. They do not define words, they describe how words are used. And in fact, "farside" is a very good word... much better than "far side" in this case, which means something rather different. The addition of "farside" (by common usage) to the language enriches it, allowing for more interesting, more clear, and more subtle usage. Can't complain about that!

[Chris Peterson]

https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap190105.html

Indeed... should be two words and not capitalized.

https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap161230.html

Well, you can argue whether you like or don't like the creation of a new word, "farside", but why shouldn't it be capitalized? That capitalization is only found in the caption, and the APOD style is to capitalize all key words in its captions.

[neufer]

https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap190105.html

Indeed... should be two words and not capitalized.

https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap161230.html

Well, you can argue whether you like or don't like the creation of a new word, "farside"...

• It's up to the IAU to create & define such new words.
  
  I just think that it is a self perpetuating APOD mistake that should be corrected.

<<Over subsequent years, as both American and Soviet spacecraft filled in the far side coverage with increasingly higher quality images, most major far side craters received names of various scientists and engineers. From around the world, a mixed bag of names were submitted to the International Astronomical Union (IAU – the body of scientists who authorize the names of planetary surface features) for consideration and approval. Although some were historically significant, many were people with whom few were familiar.>>

[Chris Peterson]

Indeed... should be two words and not capitalized.

https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap161230.html

Well, you can argue whether you like or don't like the creation of a new word, "farside"...

• It's up to the IAU to create & define such new words.

It most certainly is not! The IAU defines a formal nomenclature that is generally adopted by astronomers in technical communications. They do not define common language (for instance, it's still perfectly reasonable to call Pluto a planet in many contexts).

I just think that it is a self perpetuating APOD mistake that should be corrected.

That's fine. But it's just a linguistic opinion. Mine is that this is a new word that doesn't mean the same as "far side" and is therefore useful and desirable.

[neufer]

I just think that "farside" is a self perpetuating APOD mistake that should be corrected.

That's fine. But it's just a linguistic opinion.

Mine is that this is a new word that doesn't mean the same as "far side" and is therefore useful and desirable.

It simply adds to the "dark side"/"far side" confusion, IMO.

[Chris Peterson]

I just think that "farside" is a self perpetuating APOD mistake that should be corrected.

That's fine. But it's just a linguistic opinion.

Mine is that this is a new word that doesn't mean the same as "far side" and is therefore useful and desirable.

It simply adds to the "dark side"/"far side" confusion, IMO.

The Chinese rover is on the lunar farside, and the Apollo landing sites are on its far side.

[bystander]

farside n (Celestial Objects) the farthest side, esp the side of the Moon which faces away from the Earth.

[Chris Peterson]

farside n (Celestial Objects) the farthest side, esp the side of the Moon which faces away from the Earth.

Not surprisingly, web-based dictionaries are likely to be more up-to-date on usage.

[neufer]

farside n (Celestial Objects) the farthest side, esp the side of the Moon which faces away from the Earth.

Not surprisingly, web-based dictionaries are likely to be more up-to-date on usage.

FARCE (n.) late 14c., "force-meat, stuffing;" 1520s, in the dramatic sense "ludicrous satire; low comedy," from Middle French farce "comic interlude in a mystery play" (16c.), literally "stuffing," from Old French farcir "to stuff," (13c.), from Latin farcire "to stuff, cram."

• ... for a farce is that in poetry which grotesque is in a picture. The persons and action of a farce are all unnatural, and the manners false, that is, inconsisting with the characters of mankind. [Dryden, "A Parallel of Poetry and Painting"]

According to OED and other sources, the pseudo-Latin FARSIA was applied 13c. in France and England to praise phrases inserted into liturgical formulae (for example between kyrie and eleison) at the principal festivals, then in Old French farce was extended to the impromptu buffoonery among actors that was a feature of religious stage plays. Generalized sense of "a ridiculous sham" is from 1690s in English.

[Ann]

It simply adds to the "dark side"/"far side" confusion, IMO.

Click to view full size image

Why did you join the far side, my father?

Ann

[Fred the Cat]

It's time to contemplate using the term " backside"

[neufer]

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