You can also have a par function to curry a function:
(def par (f . args)
" Partially apply `f' to `args'; i.e., return a function which, when called,
calls `f' with `args' and the arguments to the new function. "
(fn newargs (apply f (join args newargs))))
so (par + 42) will do what you want. Also, a generalized swap (which I called flip):
(def flip (fun)
" Returns a function which is the same as `fun', but takes its arguments in
the opposite order. "
(fn args (apply fun (rev args))))
This works for n-ary functions, but is still probably most useful for functions of two arguments: (par (flip -) 42).
Didn't think of "par", cool idea. It could even be turned into a macro, like that:
(par foo x) => [foo x] ; Well maybe too much.
About flip, I'd rather rotate the arguments instead of reverse them. That way, you have access to more arguments orders by composing flip. You could also define flip2, flip3... in the library if they're used often.
Don't you mean [foo x] => (par foo x)? []s aren't fundamental, they're sugar.
I'm not sure there is a sensible way to extend flip to functions taking more than two arguments. Reverse is one, rotate is another; you might as well have two functions for that. It seems like six of one, half a dozen of the other to me.