Sep 27, 2005 17:35
18 yrs ago
English term
Sanjiv Sadan (X)
raise and lower a roof at the same time
Non-PRO
English
Art/Literary
Art, Arts & Crafts, Painting
A canvas roof called the velarium was raised and lowered by a specially trained team of Roman sailors.
What do they mean by raising and lowering a roof at the same time?
What do they mean by raising and lowering a roof at the same time?
Responses
| 4 +15 | NOT at the same time. |
jccantrell
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| 5 +4 | not "at the same time" |
Christopher Crockett
|
Responses
+15
1 min
jccantrell
United States
United States
Native in English
&
English
United States
Was nicht ist, kann noch werden.
Native in: English (Variant: US) 
Works in: German to English
Selected
NOT at the same time.
It means that the sailors were tasked to do this work. They were the ones who raised it AND they were the ones who lowered it, just not at the same time.
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Note added at 2 mins (2005-09-27 17:37:52 GMT)
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Kind of like: I drive my car to and from work.
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Note added at 2 mins (2005-09-27 17:37:52 GMT)
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Kind of like: I drive my car to and from work.
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "Thanks to both of you for explaining this poing."
+4
2 mins
Christopher Crockett
Native in English
&
English
Specializes in field
M.A., Ph.D. Historian/Art Historian
Native in: English 
Works in: French to English, English
Related KudoZ points
:
11
not "at the same time"
The phrase doesn't mean that this "roof" was raised and lowered at the same time, just that it could be raised *or* lowered in this fashion.
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Note added at 3 mins (2005-09-27 17:39:27 GMT)
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For some reason the English idiom for saying this normally uses "and" rather than "or".
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Note added at 3 mins (2005-09-27 17:39:27 GMT)
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For some reason the English idiom for saying this normally uses "and" rather than "or".
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
MPGS
: 'and' because both, not just one, functions are covered :) ... sure! :)
19 mins
|
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Yes, but not at the same time, Janus-like. Thanks, M.
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| agree |
RHELLER
: 'twas all in a day's work :-)
27 mins
|
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Or two day's work. Thanks, Rita.
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| agree |
LJC (X)
3 hrs
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Thanks, Lesley.
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| agree |
Saleh Chowdhury, Ph.D.
1 day 23 hrs
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Thanks, Saleh.
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