Comments on: Bimonthly Gleanings (July – August 2008)

By: D. Wilson

D. Wilson — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 04:44:09 +0000

I don’t believe “demodicidosis” contains any “-cid-” associated with “-cide” referring to killing. I believe “demodicidosis” = “demodicid” + “-osis”, i.e., disease related to a demodicid. Similarly “demodicosis” = “demodic-” (i.e., “demodex”) + “-osis”, i.e., disease related to a demodex. A demodicid may be considered to be a member of the family Demodicidae, while a demodex may be considered to be a member of the genus Demodex. Since Demodex is the only genus in the family Demodicidae, AFAIK, both terms seem equivalent, and I think both are reasonably well formed. Of course “demodicid” = “demodic-” (i.e., “demodex”) + “-id”.

Should an alternative taxonomy show an additional (non-Demodex) genus within family Demodicidae, then one may (in principle) consider demodicidosis to be the more general term (also encompassing the additional genus).

By: JMD

JMD — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 06:14:05 +0000

You note that “artifact” is “from arte, the ablative singular of ars ‘art’ and fictum, the neuter past participle of facere ‘make, do.’” However, “fictum” is not the past participle of facere – the principle parts of facere are “facio, facere, feci, factum.” “Fictum” is the neuter perfect passive participle of “fingo, fingere, finxi, fictum,” to shape, mould, arrange, devise. The participle in particular can mean feigned or false. See Cassell’s Latin Dictionary. As the meanings of the verbs are similar, I am not sure which one you meant, though I suspect you meant to say factum.

By: Nathan Carlson

Nathan Carlson — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 18:19:36 +0000

As to dwarfs vs. dwarves: Tolkien wrote that he preferred the -ves ending for his little people exactly because of the OE influence. Wolf ~ wolves was right to him, thus dwarf ~ dwarves. The -fs ending so favored by Disney rankled Tolkien (had anyone ever asked him).

By: John Cowan

John Cowan — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 16:57:45 +0000

I will add that the plural of dwarf 'human being of short stature' is everywhere dwarfs. Additionally, though I realize that opponent may mean simply 'a person who maintains a contrary position' (OED 1b), your use of the word carks me, for we are on the same side, that of truth.

By: Kiwi Carlisle

Kiwi Carlisle — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 16:14:05 +0000

I’m a Missourian as well. I’ve grown up with “Bossy” used as such a generic cow name that “Bossy” is practically a synonym for cow. My Dad, who grew up in Texas, even used to call cows “bossies”. Admittedly, his father was a classically-trained minister, which might skew the sample just a tad.