Disgruntled

[spiff]

'when news of the pay cuts was released,bosses were confronted by a disgruntled workforce...' we've all seen news reports like that,but you never see....'when news of the pay rises was released,bosses were met by a gruntled workforce....' But why do we not use the word 'gruntled' to mean the opposite of 'disgruntled'?

[Quizmonster]

'Gruntled' has been used as an amusing back-formation of 'disgruntled' by several writers, including P G Wodehouse. He wrote: "I could see that, if not exactly disgruntled, he was far from being gruntled." You'll be in good company, if you start it up again!

[IndieSinger]

Haha that reminds me of this site - http://www.ojohaven.com/fun/negations.html - which is a link provided by this site - http://www.ojohaven.com/fun/ - which, if you haven't seen it already, I think you'd like Quizmonster.

[Kit]

Nothing to do with gruntledness, but enjoy it anyway:

SAGACITY, by Roslyn Taylor

Despair to my mother was I in my youth,
For I was considered inept and uncouth;
Unkempt and unruly
Was infant Yours Truly.

Throughout tempestuous puberty
She battled my uncoutherty,
And with a stern unfoolishness
Coped with my unrulishness.

My mother (flushed with her success)
Then tackled my unkemptliness
And with relentless recitude
Conquered my ineptitude.

How well my mother schooled me,
How well my mother fooled me,
At last I've discovered the terrible truth -
It's no fun being ept, kempt, ruly or couth.

[Quizmonster]

A wonderful story, Indie, and thank you for it. I had thought of 'mayed' and 'shevelled' for any potential response, but clearly the writer has really gone to town! (I've noted the URL of the other site and will certainly have a browse there when I have time.) I like the poem, too, Kit. There are obviously loads of "non-positivisable" word-forms.