Synonym for 'geared'

[irmamar]

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.

Thank you.

[Perikles]

Originally Posted by irmamar

more geared to the market.

more adapted to the market
more adjusted to the market

[irmamar]

Thanks!

[poli]

also oriented toward

[irmamar]

Toward or towards?

And would simply "to" work?

[Perikles]

Originally Posted by irmamar

Toward or towards?

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]

Thank you, sir.

Another question: oriented or orientated?

[poli]

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]

Yes, that's an important issue, so with s.

And my second question?

[Perikles]

Originally Posted by poli

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]

Originally Posted by irmamar

oriented or orientated?

I think BrE is orientated. Take your pick.

[hermit]

They mean the same - it's a matter of choice for the "flow" of what you
want to say...

[poli]

It all depends on your orientation. Although orientate sounds de trop to me. Hermit is the Canadian mediator. Listen to him.

[irmamar]

The subject is History of Britain and Ireland, so 'orientated' will be perfect. Thanks everybody.

[JPablo]

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]

Originally Posted by JPablo

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 we were just trying to answer that question, without asking the obvious question as to why one earth she would want to do that.

[Awaken]

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]

Originally Posted by Awaken

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.

[poli]

Originally Posted by Perikles

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.

exacally!

[Awaken]

Originally Posted by Perikles

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.

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