The "Nonplussed" Problem

[Slava]

A quirky article in Slate.com:

http://www.slate.com/id/2290536/pagenum/all/

I wonder how "penultimate" would work out in this system.

[sluggo]

Interesting analysis, but I wonder in what circles he gets these new meanings. I haven't heard them misused as such (with the exception of momentarily which is not much of a leap anyway).

Mayhaps a better example would have been the word hopefully.

[Audiendus]

I was surprised that he could find no examples of eke out in the old sense (i.e. make a small amount of something last). I would be more likely to use it in that sense than the new one.

As far as presently is concerned, I would be happy to see the old meaning die out, as it has always struck me as completely illogical. How did 'presently' ever come to refer to the future?

The 'old' meaning of begging the question is still alive and well in philosophy. There is really no concise alternative to it, unless one uses the Latin phrase, petitio principii.

[Perry Lassiter]

Begging the question is also used in debate as well as philosophy. And even antepenultimate shows up in language discussion.