Published October 10, 2025 

Recently, I spotted a chair at the coffee shop. Was it a chair with a back and legs? Was it the chair of the English Department? You don’t know yet! Not enough context!

Did I sit on the chair? Did I sit on the chair of the English Department??

Wait, did I sit on the second-chair violin? That sounds painful.

It might come as a surprise to some people, but words can have more than one definition. In fact, many do!

A chair can be: a seat typically having four legs and a back for one person; the electric chair; an official seat or a seat of authority, state, or dignity; an office or position of authority or dignity; a professorship; a chairperson; a position of employment usually of one occupying a chair or desk (specifically, the position of a player in an orchestra or band); any of various devices that hold up or support; or a sedan chair.

Okay, I kept you in suspense long enough. I sat on a seat with four legs and a back.

Why this post today?

I’ve worked with a lot of “one definition per word” people. It’s so frustrating. One definition only, Carly!

That’s how they come across, anyway.

Have I told you lately that words can have many meanings? I think I have.

Look up love, smell, run, set and starter, for starters.

If the dictionary you use is from 1990, you might be having a tough time in the world today. Have I told you lately that language evolves and expands? I think I have.

Some editors seem to want to make the job harder than it needs to be, and they give us the reputation of being the sort of person who’d own a mug that says, “I’m silently correcting your grammar.”

Gross.

Speaking of gross, “chair” always makes me think of noted anti-trans and J.K. Rowling suck-up Graham Linehan.

One final thought

Context is why we don’t have to give the definition of every word we use so readers will understand.

Give enough context, yes, but also give the reader some credit.

Sending love. Protect your peace.

♥

Thank you

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Chair photo © Tashka | Megapixl.com

Come on, people now

Coming across this earlier in the week struck a chord. I don’t think the Youngbloods performed this song at Woodstock (Richie Havens did), but that’s probably not the point to the video. It didn’t stop me from listening to and watching the whole thing.

Thank you, Jesse Colin Young. We miss you, but we still get to hear your voice.

Related, one of my seminary classmates loved this song, and he played it in his dorm room for me — on vinyl! I think about him often.