"Distrust implies informed judgment, mistrust implies doubt and uncertainty. Both legitimate words."
And with this definition "Utterly" makes even less sense. "I distrust Bob." = based on Bob's previous behaviour, I guess Bob's next action will be evil with 80% probability and "utterly distrust" = 99% probability. It is a grammatically well-formed sentence, but it makes no sense in terms of Alex's previous interactions with her eldest sister.
Alex is fully justified to resent Lilith at 200%, but Trust is a different issue.
"I mistrust Charles." = I have limited information about Charles, so I am going to guess that Charles' next action will be evil with 45% probability. But what does "utterly distrust" mean? I am absolutely certain that Charles' next action will be evil with 50% probability; not 49, not 51, but exactly 50. That is a very specific level of uncertainty, Captain.
no subject
"Distrust implies informed judgment, mistrust implies doubt and uncertainty. Both legitimate words."
And with this definition "Utterly" makes even less sense. "I distrust Bob." = based on Bob's previous behaviour, I guess Bob's next action will be evil with 80% probability and "utterly distrust" = 99% probability. It is a grammatically well-formed sentence, but it makes no sense in terms of Alex's previous interactions with her eldest sister.
Alex is fully justified to resent Lilith at 200%, but Trust is a different issue.
"I mistrust Charles." = I have limited information about Charles, so I am going to guess that Charles' next action will be evil with 45% probability. But what does "utterly distrust" mean? I am absolutely certain that Charles' next action will be evil with 50% probability; not 49, not 51, but exactly 50. That is a very specific level of uncertainty, Captain.