[extropy-chat] like definition

[Adrian Tymes]

--- spike <spike66 at comcast.net> wrote:
> So perhaps like is a de-exactifyer, or serves the 
> purpose of generalizing, perhaps fuzzifying
> statements.

Aye.  If you check the dictionary definition, that is
exactly what "like" was originally intended for.
"Something like", "approximately like", and that sort
of thing.

It may also be used to express uncertainty.  Like, if
I'm having a hard time nailing down the exact
description, I can spout off something like it and
tack on "like"s to flag that this isn't necessarily
precise.  It may be that I happen to hit it spot on,
but if I'm not personally confident that I have, then
"like" flags my own unease.