Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Language/2014 November 8

Welcome to the Wikipedia Language Reference Desk Archives
The page you are currently viewing is an archive page. While you can leave answers for any questions shown below, please ask new questions on one of the current reference desk pages.

November 8

Looking for a word. Not "opposite" but similar.

Where I work, we have four 12-hour shifts that provide 24 hour coverage, 7 days a week, 363 days a year. One day shift works three days one week and four the next. The other day shift works the other four days one week, and three the next. Every week they swap so that every two weeks the schedules repeat. It's nearly the same way for the night shifts. The shifts are designated D1, D2, N1, and N2.

What would D2 be called in reference to D1? Or N2 to N1? Words like opposite don't quite sound right. The opposite of D1 would seem to me to be N2, not D2. Corresponding sounds like it's nearly there but something about it just doesn't sit well in my brain. Possibly because it requires an additional qualifier like "the corresponding night shift" or "the corresponding day shift" instead of just being able to say "the ____ shift" with just one word. I feel like there's a more precise "co-" word that I can't put my finger on. Any ideas? Dismas|^(talk) 04:59, 8 November 2014 (UTC)

• Alternate or corresponding. If you don't like those google synonym for each and you'll find what you want. μηδείς (talk) 06:28, 8 November 2014 (UTC)

I thought about it for five minutes, even did some Googling, but came up empty. If you feel it's on the tip of your tongue, I'd suggest sleeping on it. That usually works for me. My sleeping mind works on it, and it's there waiting for me when I wake up. ‑‑Mandruss ☎ 06:43, 8 November 2014 (UTC)

Complementary? -- BenRG (talk) 07:22, 8 November 2014 (UTC)

I don't think this is a common enough relationship for there to be a single word for it. I'd just go with the same phrase as in the question: "the other day shift". --174.88.134.249 (talk) 08:09, 8 November 2014 (UTC)

Corresponding and complementary, to me, sound like they're comparing D1 to N1, because D1 and N1 complement each other to complete 24-hour day. Alternate somewhat implies that the two shifts switch back and forth one after the other, a la alternating current. My suggestion would be congruent, or maybe equivalent. Matt Deres (talk) 15:09, 8 November 2014 (UTC)

For a noun, see wikt:counterpart.—Wavelength (talk) 16:47, 8 November 2014 (UTC)

Again, with respect to D1 this could equally well refer to N1 rather than D2. And "congruent" and "equivalent" don't suggest any relationship such as was described. Go with a phrase. --174.88.134.249 (talk) 22:58, 8 November 2014 (UTC)

I suppose we could invent a word. How about "chronoequisolluminar", meaning times receiving the same amount of sunlight? StuRat (talk) 23:11, 8 November 2014 (UTC)

Have you perhaps been getting a touch too much moonlight, Stu? Or moonshine?  :) -- Jack of Oz ^{[pleasantries]} 18:53, 9 November 2014 (UTC)