Honestly, “nemesis” is one of those words like “apocalypse” — it just plain shouldn’t have a plural. An “apocalypse” is the end of EVERYTHING — you can only have one. A “nemesis” is your greatest, purest enemy, who is your exact opposite — you can only have one.
So, y’know, if you need a plural for either of those, you’re screwed to a degree that mythology itself isn’t prepared for. Like Buffy the Vampire Slayer, who faced an apocalypse every season, or you, who’s got more than one person whose entire existence is built around destroying you personally.
Nemesis does not mean: “your greatest, purest enemy, who is your exact opposite.” It means: “an opponent or rival whom a person cannot best or overcome.” And trust me – I got plenty of opponents I cannot best or overcome. Heck, I got little nephews I can’t even thwart.
Of course, originally Nemesis was the personification of divine retribution, usually as applied to those guilty of hubris. Then it came to mean a person who was the agent of divine retribution, and eventually became a strong or unbeatable opponent
These days we would say “comeuppance”, “just desserts” or “poetic justice”. Would Calvin and Hobbs have been as funny if Calvin described his mom as “my arch-comeuppance”?
The Oxford English Dictionary defines it as “The inescapable agent of someone’s or something’s downfall.” So I suppose technically it could be made plural, but I have to agree with Ian–If you need to use it, things will not go well for you.
I had an aunt who used a cattle prod (an electric one called a “Hotshot”) on her foster kids. I couldn’t understand why the state kept giving her kids to raise when they all ran away as soon as they could. It was sick.
Mean old woman, I tell you.
“Nope. I’m saying that I have enemies – plural. “Nemeses” is the plural form of “nemesis.””
Correct me if I’m wrong but I believe Grammar Nazis, apologetic as they may initially seem though simply masking their condescension, are perfect for both the bracelet you show there as well as a “rooster” ring, no?
Nah. I rely on Grammar Nazis to help edit my strip. I honestly appreciate it when someone points out errors. But, when they’re a jerk about, that’s when I have a problem with them.
![[Enemy Week] Brace for Friend-Pact](https://www.bugmartini.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/2014-05-12-Enemy-Week-Brace-for-Friend-Pact.png "[Enemy Week] Brace for Friend-Pact")
You just need to sneak up on them with a branding iron. And maybe a stun gun.
Maybe some sort of electric brander that stuns while it brands and brands while it stuns.
Now I know what to get for my girl…
Don’t want to sound too cocky, but shouldn’t it be nemesis?
Not if it’s the plural form 😉
Nope. I’m saying that I have enemies – plural. “Nemeses” is the plural form of “nemesis.”
Honestly, “nemesis” is one of those words like “apocalypse” — it just plain shouldn’t have a plural. An “apocalypse” is the end of EVERYTHING — you can only have one. A “nemesis” is your greatest, purest enemy, who is your exact opposite — you can only have one.
So, y’know, if you need a plural for either of those, you’re screwed to a degree that mythology itself isn’t prepared for. Like Buffy the Vampire Slayer, who faced an apocalypse every season, or you, who’s got more than one person whose entire existence is built around destroying you personally.
Nemesis does not mean: “your greatest, purest enemy, who is your exact opposite.” It means: “an opponent or rival whom a person cannot best or overcome.” And trust me – I got plenty of opponents I cannot best or overcome. Heck, I got little nephews I can’t even thwart.
Of course, originally Nemesis was the personification of divine retribution, usually as applied to those guilty of hubris. Then it came to mean a person who was the agent of divine retribution, and eventually became a strong or unbeatable opponent
These days we would say “comeuppance”, “just desserts” or “poetic justice”. Would Calvin and Hobbs have been as funny if Calvin described his mom as “my arch-comeuppance”?
The Oxford English Dictionary defines it as “The inescapable agent of someone’s or something’s downfall.” So I suppose technically it could be made plural, but I have to agree with Ian–If you need to use it, things will not go well for you.
Enemy Week? This sounds promising!!
Time to bust out the cattle prod!
I had an aunt who used a cattle prod (an electric one called a “Hotshot”) on her foster kids. I couldn’t understand why the state kept giving her kids to raise when they all ran away as soon as they could. It was sick.
Mean old woman, I tell you.
In
“…in case you get Mementoed…” THAT is hilarious! My all time favorite movie mixed with my all time favorite web comic. Thanks for the laugh, Adam!
That was what I call a “my parents won’t get this, but my friends will” joke.
Glad you’re digging the strip!
ENEMA WEEK!!! \o/
No, wait…
Just you wait. If I ever have to get one, rest assured – there will be an Enema Week.
We are gonna be in for a gnarly ride when you hit fifty and have to start getting regular colonoscopies and other bowel-related tests, aren’t we?
“Nope. I’m saying that I have enemies – plural. “Nemeses” is the plural form of “nemesis.””
Correct me if I’m wrong but I believe Grammar Nazis, apologetic as they may initially seem though simply masking their condescension, are perfect for both the bracelet you show there as well as a “rooster” ring, no?
Nah. I rely on Grammar Nazis to help edit my strip. I honestly appreciate it when someone points out errors. But, when they’re a jerk about, that’s when I have a problem with them.
Those are quite large bracelets for bugs that have twig arms. 😀
I can see the nemesii one, though. It’s supposed to be inconvenient!
Is it a bracelet or a necklace?
This looks promising!
Theme week! Yay!
I’m starting to get the feeling that nerd bug is your rival, and that you have a girlfriend or wife.
I just watched ‘Memento’ yesterday and that ending sucked