How many three-letter alphabet sequences appear in English words? Probably more than you'd think. How many of four? Can you name a double eponym, that is, someone with two words originating from his name? I know one, and I'd be excited to learn another. Answers will be posted in a few days, although...

The following is from Time Magazine of August 6 of this year (p.44). "If that holds true for multipartner unions as well, then Brown and his ilk have reason to be encouraged." Perhaps I am too fussy - there is certainly no problem understanding the meaning - but I kinda like it when things...

A picture caption from Newsweek of Jan.28:

Sadr loyalists have largely obeyed his call to halt attacks, for the moment

This seems to be mixing tenses, in a way. The meaning is plain enough, but this kind of careless writing seems a slippery slope.

Thank you for your interest, but I still think that 'ago' means 'prior to this utterance.' Consider this:

"Everyone rose when Mr. Churchill entered the room. Two year ago that would have been unlikely."


Incidentally, Sluggo, I don't think you mean 'begging the question'...

magniloquent

grandiloquent

obloquy

Thank you! Well, that's about it. It's actually from 1908, the 60th anniversary of the reign of Franz Joseph.
Seeya, Stephen

"We had not forgotten that two years ago we were ignored." Shouldn't this read "two years earlier"? I see this construction a lot. It seems to me that from the point of view of the past, the word 'ago' is inappropriate. Opinions?

Anyone understand Latin? I have an old Austrian coin with this inscription: DVODECIM LVSTRIS GLORIOSE PERACTIS. I've tried a number of resources and come up 'vacuus'. Thanks, Stephen

Taking suggestions for additions? I often hear 'reticent' for 'reluctant,' and, for 'homogeneous,' 'homogenous,' which has a specific meaning in biology.

This is cheating but . . . "peso sign."