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Synonym for 'geared'

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irmamar
November 02, 2010, 12:45 PM
I'm looking for a synonym for 'geared' in this sentence, please:

Landownership was becoming more concentrated and agricultural production more geared to the market.

The context is the reasons that led the English expansion to the West about 16th century. I think there must be a word more appropriate. :thinking:

Thank you. :)

Perikles
November 02, 2010, 12:54 PM
more geared to the market.
more adapted to the market
more adjusted to the market :)

irmamar
November 02, 2010, 01:12 PM
Thanks! :)

poli
November 02, 2010, 01:28 PM
also oriented toward

irmamar
November 02, 2010, 01:45 PM
Toward or towards? :thinking:

And would simply "to" work?

Perikles
November 02, 2010, 01:57 PM
Toward or towards? :thinking:

And would simply "to" work?I would say orientated towards, not 'toward' or 'to'.:)

(To orientate is to point in a direction, and thus point towards something. This originates from the time when east, i.e. Jerusalem was the main direction, at the top of a map.)

irmamar
November 02, 2010, 02:01 PM
Thank you, sir. :)

Another question: oriented or orientated?

poli
November 02, 2010, 02:07 PM
Toward and towards are interchangable. In interest of economy, why use
s when you don't need to. Save the s for more important issues.

irmamar
November 02, 2010, 02:13 PM
Yes, that's an important issue, so with s. :D

And my second question? :o

Perikles
November 02, 2010, 02:20 PM
Toward and towards are interchangable. In interest of economy, why use
s when you don't need to. Save the s for more important issues.BNC gives

toward - 1,165,
towards - 27,270

Each to his own. :)

Perikles
November 02, 2010, 02:21 PM
oriented or orientated?I think BrE is orientated. Take your pick.

hermit
November 02, 2010, 02:30 PM
They mean the same - it's a matter of choice for the "flow" of what you
want to say...

poli
November 02, 2010, 02:57 PM
It all depends on your orientation. Although orientate sounds de trop to me. Hermit is the Canadian mediator. Listen to him.

irmamar
November 03, 2010, 01:11 AM
The subject is History of Britain and Ireland, so 'orientated' will be perfect. Thanks everybody. :)

JPablo
November 04, 2010, 03:10 AM
Bueno, esta la veo a posteriori... pero, ¿lo buscas para español o para el inglés?

La propiedad de la tierra se estaba concentrando más y la producción agrícola se enfocaba [dirigía/iba encaminada/estaba orientada] al mercado.

O "estaba planeada de cara al mercado" (no para el consumo autosuficiente...)

Landownership was becoming more concentrated and agricultural production more geared to the market.

Now, if you are talking in English, I would take "geared" over "orientated" any day of the week... If we talk Spanish, yes "orientada" or any one of the synonym expressions I included.

It all depends on what are you gearing up for [para qué te estés preparando...]

Perikles
November 04, 2010, 03:29 AM
Now, if you are talking in English, I would take "geared" over "orientated" any day of the week... Yes, but Irma was just asking for a synonym for geared, so being nice people :rolleyes: we were just trying to answer that question, without asking the obvious question as to why one earth she would want to do that. :D

Awaken
November 04, 2010, 05:10 AM
The oriented vs. orientated thing is definitely an AmE vs. BrE thing. In American English, it is clear that the verb is "orient" hence "I'm disoriented" (although I know I hear disorientated on British TV). If you define "orientate," you will see it means "to orient" so I say just skip the extra unneeded syllable and keep it simple =) I am 100% biased though.

In general, when I hear "orientate", I tend to think it was just an incorrect conjugation from "orientation." Same thing when I hear someone say "conversate." Oh well. The more Top Gear and Man vs. Wild (Bear Grylls show) I watch, the more familiar I get with BrE.

Perikles
November 04, 2010, 05:54 AM
The oriented vs. orientated thing is definitely an AmE vs. BrE thing. In American English, it is clear that the verb is "orient" hence "I'm disoriented" Interestingly, orient as a verb is older (1727) than orientate (1839) which the OED guesses is a back-formation from orientation. Perhaps it derives from a need to have a verb form different from the noun. I find the 'unnecessary' syllable quite useful. If you remove all unnecessary syllables in a language, you might finish up with something totally incomprehensible. :rolleyes:

poli
November 04, 2010, 06:29 AM
Interestingly, orient as a verb is older (1727) than orientate (1839) which the OED guesses is a back-formation from orientation. Perhaps it derives from a need to have a verb form different from the noun. I find the 'unnecessary' syllable quite useful. If you remove all unnecessary syllables in a language, you might finish up with something totally incomprehensible. :rolleyes:
exacally!

Awaken
November 04, 2010, 06:53 AM
Interestingly, orient as a verb is older (1727) than orientate (1839) which the OED guesses is a back-formation from orientation. Perhaps it derives from a need to have a verb form different from the noun. I find the 'unnecessary' syllable quite useful. If you remove all unnecessary syllables in a language, you might finish up with something totally incomprehensible. :rolleyes:

Haha. The good news is that the meaning of what is being expressed isn't lost to either party. I was just poking fun at some of the British English counterparts. Heck, I am speaking "English" not "American" so in theory, I should lose all the battles over the language anyway :D