BS: 'ex cathedra' - it means...........

Subject: RE: BS: 'ex cathedra' - it means...........
From: GUEST,999
Date: 27 Nov 09 - 11:27 PM

"Subject: RE: BS: 'ex cathedra' - it means...........
From: MtheGM
Date: 27 Nov 09 - 02:00 AM

999 - in interests of accuracy: 'floccinaucinihil...' actually."

Nope. There are two spellings, fyi.

Floccinocci.... and flaucinauci....

You'll find the former in Webster's Third International and the latter in the OED.

Subject: RE: BS: 'ex cathedra' - it means...........
From: Rowan
Date: 27 Nov 09 - 11:30 PM

He didn't know he was stealing my One True Love.

Joe, do I infer, correctly, that he ended his sentences with a proposition?

Cheers, Rowan

Subject: RE: BS: 'ex cathedra' - it means...........
From: MGM·Lion
Date: 27 Nov 09 - 11:40 PM

Thank you, Guest. We live & learn. From the sources you cite [Oxford University & Noah Webster's successors], it would appear perhaps to be one of those UK/US variants. My own source was Chambers Dictionary.

There seem also to be two different possible pronunciations of the -cc- at end of first syllable — some say 'flocky...' & some 'floxy...' — followed indeed by either 'nocky...' or 'nowky...' [this bit presumably depending on whether one is thinking the '... nocci...' or the '...nauci...' version - in the first of which instances, will it be '...nocky...' or '...noxy...' [see above re 'floc...'].

You say above there are 2 spellings — but you seem to have intro'd another variant spelling by starting your 2nd version 'flauci...' instead of 'flocci' - which will of course gr8ly modify my above observations, to an extent that I cannot at present bear to contemplate...

It is, of course, a word constantly on all our lips, so it is important these vital questions be swiftly resolved!...

Subject: RE: BS: 'ex cathedra' - it means...........
From: GUEST,999
Date: 27 Nov 09 - 11:51 PM

I screwed up. It's flaucci.......

Subject: RE: BS: 'ex cathedra' - it means...........
From: MGM·Lion
Date: 27 Nov 09 - 11:51 PM

Talking of lexicographers [drift alert!!! but it is that sort of thread anyhow, isn't it?]:

Many people know the tale of Samuel Johnson, told by a woman that he smelt, replying 'No, madam; you smell, I stink!'.

But the story is, I think, less well known, of Noah Webster caught by his wife in flagrante with a female servant: 'Why, Noah,' she is said to have exclaimed, 'I am surprised!'; to which his alleged rejoinder was, 'No, my dear, it is we who are surprised. You are astounded.'

Subject: RE: BS: 'ex cathedra' - it means...........
From: MGM·Lion
Date: 27 Nov 09 - 11:52 PM

'I screwed up. It's flaucci...'

Still a variant spelling tho, 999.

Subject: RE: BS: 'ex cathedra' - it means...........
From: GUEST,999
Date: 27 Nov 09 - 11:57 PM

STILL?

Subject: RE: BS: 'ex cathedra' - it means...........
From: MGM·Lion
Date: 28 Nov 09 - 12:09 AM

Yes, 'STILL' — what's the problem?

Subject: RE: BS: 'ex cathedra' - it means...........
From: GUEST,999
Date: 28 Nov 09 - 12:19 AM

Nun. Know problem.

Subject: RE: BS: 'ex cathedra' - it means...........
From: Little Hawk
Date: 28 Nov 09 - 12:38 AM

Birdie num-nums?

Subject: RE: BS: 'ex cathedra' - it means...........
From: MGM·Lion
Date: 28 Nov 09 - 12:46 AM

Eh? ;~)§