The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #118662 Message #3363275
Posted By: MGM·Lion
14-Jun-12 - 07:16 AM
Thread Name: BS: English grammar question
Subject: RE: BS: English grammar question
Agree too with danger of this last example, Steve; but isn't one of the saddest examples of the kind of damaging over-definition we join here in deploring the fate of that fine, happy old word "gay"? One dictionary I came across [Collins?] gave "homosexual" as the primary meaning and glossed "bright and cheerful" as 'obsolete', which I think appalling. I agree that 'imhoe' is not a elegant usage, nor yet a readily comprehensible one; but my point is that these are reasonable objections to its usage, whereas I think your avoidance of it on grounds of putative moralistic objectionability a trifle finicky.