LTS -

There's no real harm in reference to dictionaries, but they're sometimes less than satisfying when the discussion is about local variations in usage. The really interesting (to me) comments are about usages that don't follow the dictionary, and my family and community probably provided a "richer source of examples" than many more cosmopolitan - or more isolated - ones.

Central plains US, especially the semi-rural parts, was a little "inbred" not too long ago. Rural communities in the area were also still very much divided among numerous ethnic(?) and religious factions who mingled but "kept a distance." This allowed exposure to some rather distinctive and very localized "traditions" and practices. As a "city kid" who spent quite a lot of time with "farm relatives" I may also have been more aware of some of the "differences" than kids who grew up within one of the "factions."

But I do hate it when I realize I'm now one of the "old geezers" who can tell the "**young whippersnappers" about things from the good old days that they never heard of.

(** an archaic term with several more modern and appropriate replacements.)

John