2006-06-21 08:14:19 · 20 answers · asked by Anonymous in Home & Garden ➔ Other - Home & Garden
Good question...almost as good as why do they call them driveways when you park on them and parkways when you drive on them...the weird, wacky world of the English language.
2006-07-05 02:20:22 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Excellent question. In fact they should be called as partments, being part of a contiguous buiding and not a-partments. The word 'a' is superfluous in it. Nice information!
But still, if you think carefully about the word 'apartments', you will find that the portions are built in a building to keep different families independent and 'APART' from each other in the same bulding. That is why the name apartments have come up on that basis.
2006-06-21 15:22:32 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Good ole Mr. Webster lists several definitions for the word "apart," one of which is "into pieces." So an apartment building, for example, is a building that has been divided into pieces--sets of rooms in this case. And one of the definitions for "-ment" is "state of being." So I guess you could say it's the state of being in pieces. lmao. I sound like such a nerd, but that's what college will get ya.
I'm sure some crusty old guy came up with the term, so I blame him for the confusion. :oÃ
2006-06-25 23:18:34 · answer #3 · answered by Rhae L 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
ment usually refers to the act of., a part is a piece of. not a part from
So you're giving a piece of the complex to somebody as rent.
Apartment is a part of a larger complex. You see in the paper: apartment for rent not one part or piece of complex for rent - quicker to say and cheaper to spell.
My question would be why aren't department stores called apartment stores? The departments are actually a part of the store.. so why not an apartment ?
2006-07-05 09:32:08 · answer #4 · answered by game buddee 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Just like the compartMENT,they are stuck together but they have different areas!Malls have different departMENTS too and they are stuck together too but they have their own respective areas of categories!
2006-07-04 06:26:42 · answer #5 · answered by tutax 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
haha -- excellent riddle.
Also try these:
If you send something by BOAT, why is it called CARGO?
If you send something by TRUCK why is is called a SHIPMENT?
Why do women ride side-saddle on horseback? Wouldn't it make more sense for MEN to do that?
2006-07-04 20:04:03 · answer #6 · answered by barefootboy 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Each unit is a part of a ment. Each unit is a part of the whole and apartwhole doesn't do it.
2006-06-30 23:30:03 · answer #7 · answered by muskokastan 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Because they are separate ("apart") units within othe same building.
2006-06-28 22:04:02 · answer #8 · answered by turtledove 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
That's funny... Good call!
2006-06-21 15:18:06 · answer #9 · answered by zoeboxcat 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Compartments would be a better name..
2006-06-28 19:06:11 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋