I understand that Latin phrases are not normally hyphenated. I also understand that adjective-modifying adverbs normally do receive a hyphen (despite this parenthetically invoked exception). So, which is most correct? Option A: There is no ex ante profitable strategy. Option B: There is no ex ante-profitable strategy. Option C: There is no ex-ante-profitable strategy. I … Read more
September October November December Presumably something Latin, but my (admittedly brief) search sees only mention of the number-based root words. More specifically, what does “-ber” mean? Answer From Etymonline: The -ber in four Latin month names is probably from -bris, an adjectival suffix. Tucker thinks that the first five months were named for their positions … Read more
Why is one of those spelled with a single L and not the other? For the etymology of Beryllium name it’s unclear but could be either Greek or Latin, and Helium is named after Helios (so Greek here). Answer As the comments have said, there isn’t any reason to expect these two different words to … Read more
According to Ngram, anyway. The vast majority of English speakers seem to have no idea what the word means. Now why is that? UPDATE: After reading some of the responses: As a noun. Answer In Search of Lost Etymons: Stalking Cranberry Morphemes The learnèd word coeval, sometimes written coëval and formerly spelled coaeval or coæval, … Read more
I’m writing fiction and currently working on appendices for my novel (or possibly alternatively for my website). I’d like to indicate that these are not ‘complete’ appendices but are sort of a work-in-progress. For example, the glossary for my world will continue to grow. Basically, I don’t mind generating canon for my world, because it … Read more
I have been looking in OED for a history that makes sense, yet, I just find crumbs, and I can not piece the history of this term. I am hitting a dead end researching the greek term to censor, named λογοκρίνω According to Oxford English Dictionary the word censure, n., is first documented in use … Read more
Plurals derived from Latin words ending with -us normally have the ending -i. However, the plural of virus is viruses and the plural of bonus is bonuses because these words do not have Latin plurals in English. Considering the fact that the majority of English words come from Latin (or Greek, usually via Latin), why don’t these words have Latin plurals in … Read more
I’ve checked out a similar question, but to the best of my knowledge, it only tells me that “Name et al.” is used as a singular subject since it refers to the authors, but what if the “et al..” part is followed by the citation of their article? I found the following sentence in a … Read more
I believe the correct term is “vice versa”, but occasionally I hear “vice-a-versa” being said. Is there any explanation for that pronunciation? Answer Vice can have a disyllabic pronunciation because of its Latin origins As vectory said, the pronunciation with four syllables didn’t originate as "vice-a-versa", but as "vi-ce versa", with a non-silent e at … Read more
Thanks for the help in advance; first time posting here. I’m curious what the most appropriate single word is to describe a 9 year time span, or a 9 year anniversary. A search on Google didn’t turn up much, but it did help me find this information in the Wiki page for “decade”: “…Other words … Read more
