Hacker News new | past | comments | ask | show | jobs | submit login

I don’t see how it isn’t word play? If watch features weren’t called complications then I’d agree with you.



I think would depend on whether the author of the article title was intentionally going for the more common meaning or not. But given that this seems to be a watch news site, I feel like there’s a decent chance the headline is only referring to the term of art (but I don’t know anything about watches, so this is pure speculation).


The author is definitely not going for the more common meaning. It wouldn’t even occur to someone who reads watch publications that this could have been some kind of double entendre or word play.

It‘s not a word of play as it literally means complicated things added to the normal watch function. The word with that watch making meaning is coming directly from French (most famous watch makers are coming from the speaking part of Switzerland).


So then isn't using "complicated" normally, in an attention-grabbing headline, referring to the watches complications, in a round-a-bout way?


But they’re not using it with its normal meaning in the headline. They’re using it only with the “term of art” meaning. You’re insisting on seeing a double entendre that just isn’t there.


No, it’s a term of art. This discussion is sort of like someone complaining about the term computer being used to refer to both the electronic device and mid-century math whizzes.




Join us for AI Startup School this June 16-17 in San Francisco!

Guidelines | FAQ | Lists | API | Security | Legal | Apply to YC | Contact

Search: