Re: Erasmic?

From: Richard Lindeman (richlind@uswest.net)
Date: Thu Jul 16 1998 - 12:43:19 EDT

James Ernest wrote:
>
> An editor will be pardoned for nitpicking, I hope; it's what
> we're best at.
>
> At the moment I can think of only one adjective that
> ends with -smic, and it ain't Erasmic. Isn't the usual
> adjectivization of Erasmus Erasmian? --Quit willing
> to learn that I'm wrong...
>
> --------------------------------------------------------
> James D. Ernest
> Senior editor, academic books, Hendrickson Publishers
> Ph.D. cand., Boston College
> S-MAIL: c/o Hendrickson Publishers, 140 Summit Street,
> P. O. Box 3473, Peabody, MA 01961-3473 USA
> FAX: 978/573-8243 PHONE: 978/573-2243
> E-MAIL: jernest@hendrickson.com / ernest@bc.edu
> --------------------------------------------------------
>

:-[

Thanks for the editors critique.
MEA CULPA I have sinned. "Erasmian" is probably better English when it
comes to a history of usage.

But the formation of adjectives is not by any means bound by
dictionaries. A dictionary merely reflects actual usage by common
people. Therefore, as a common person, I claim the right to say
"Erasmic" if and when it pleases me. I am permitted to coin a new word
am I not? People do it every day.
:-)

By the way... does anyone know the derivation and root meaning of
"-mic"? Perhaps that would decide the matter one way or the other.

Rich Lindeman 

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