Newsgroups: rec.radio.amateur.misc
Subject: Re: QST Content
From: julian@bongo.UUCP (Julian Macassey)
Date: 13 Aug 92 13:49:30 GMT
Reply-To: julian@bongo.info.com (Julian Macassey)
Organization: The Hole in the Wall  Hollywood California U.S.A.


In article <1992Aug12.134847.29114@ucselx.sdsu.edu> palsson@ucselx.sdsu.edu (Jerry Palsson) writes:
>Julian's points about "destinated" are well taken, but he really
>shouldn't cite the OED as a reference source.  The fact that "destinated"
>appears there is irrelevant to its current usage.  The OED is a
>wonderfully rich record of words that have been used in the English
>language, and as such it contains many words that have been dead for
>decades (sometimes centuries).

	Shouldn't cite the OED? Can you then suggest a better reference
of the words of the english language? I have several dictionaries
available to me. But when I really want to see the usage and history of
a word, I eat my spinach and reach for my OED. It is a pain to use, but
really gives me the answers I need. When I figure out how to get a CD
player running on my evil Sys V machine, it will be for the CD ROM OED.

	But despite the fact that a word appears in the OED, and lets
face it they all do, does not mean it is archaic or obselete. Any good
God fearing Presbyterian will understand the word destinate. That is
why an earlier poster talked about "Are you going to heaven or hell?". 

	So to satisfy the pedants and unbelievers, here is a reference
from a murrican dictionary. Websters Third New International Dictionary
- Unabridged. by G & C Merriam Company, Publishers. Springfield
Massachusetts. 1963

1 destinate [ME, fr. L destinatus, past aprt of destinaire] 1. archaic :
ordained by fate 2. set apart for : intended

2 destinate [L destinatus, past part] 1. archaic a: DESIGNATE b. DOOM
2. archaic : to predetermine as an act of fate by divine decree 3
archaic : to design or intend


	Before anyone jumps on me and says "Well it says archaic so
there", note that not all of the usage is arcaic - just most of it. And
I bet I can dredge up a user of it in the arcaic sense in only a phone
call - my mother for a start. But then my mother has an excellent
command of the English language.  So now someone will probably say that you
can't use a verbalist as a reference for usage but only an illiterate
peasant with a 300 word vocabulary. 


>I don't like the word either, but Fred Lloyd's comments about usage
>eventually determining correctness are right on the mark.


	But then it is also up to all of us to point out incorrect
usage and keep the language concise. Unlike the French and other 
European nations, we don't have a committee of geezers pontificating 
on usage of words and grammer. We can use "savoir faire" with no guilt, 
but the poor Froggies have been officially denied "le know-how". Guess
what their committee for the correct use of french told them to use
instead of the franglais "le know-how" - yes, "savior faire". 

	Anyway, I know I'm destinated - hell is where I will go. I will
then get to consort with Sir Compton McKenzie and other debauchees
-- 
Julian Macassey, julian@bongo.info.com  N6ARE@K6VE.#SOCAL.CA.USA.NA
742 1/2 North Hayworth Avenue Hollywood CA 90046-7142 voice (213) 653-4495
Newsgroups: rec.radio.amateur.misc