May 15, 2003

suitably small

adj.

[perverted from mathematical jargon] An expression used ironically to characterize unquantifiable behavior that differs from expected or required behavior. For example, suppose a newly created program came up with a correct full-screen display, and one publicly exclaimed: It works! Then, if the program dumped core on the first mouse click, one might add: Well, for suitably small values of ‘works’.

Posted by Jargon File at May 15, 2003 10:28 AM

Comments
Post a comment









Remember personal info?