rhematic

MollyB   Fri Dec 28, 2007 5:01 pm GMT
The text from which these sentences come states that the by-clauses in them are rhematic. What exactly does rhematic mean here?

(34) the battle for improvement of race relationships was both won and lost by implementing this program.
(35) Kerkovian is performing acts of mercy by relieving patients of their agonizing pain.
Skippy   Sat Dec 29, 2007 12:13 am GMT
I have no idea what "rhematic" means, but the definition at dictionary.com was: \Rhe*mat"ic\, a. [Gr. ???? of or for a verb, fr. ???, ???, a sentence. See Rhetoric.] (Gram.) Having a verb for its base; derived from a verb; as, rhematic adjectives. --Ftzed. Hall.

And I think you mean Kevorkian.
Guest   Sat Dec 29, 2007 4:41 am GMT
Perhaps it means they're pertinent for those specific cases?
Guest   Sat Dec 29, 2007 5:17 am GMT
It means that they use the gerund form a verb, i.e. "implementing" and "relieving".