On Sat, 9 Oct 2004 08:28:00 +0000 (UTC), "Franz Heymann"
wrote:


"Stephen Howard" wrote in message
.. .
On Fri, 8 Oct 2004 21:46:31 +0000 (UTC), "Franz Heymann"
wrote:


"Stephen Howard" wrote in message
.. .

[snip]

You might have to spend a week doing this, but it will decimate
the
population to such an extent that a weekly patrol will probably
be
adequate.

There is only one extent to which a population can be decimated,
namely to kill off one in every ten.
That leaves 90% fighting fit.
{:-((

There's always one...

http://www.wsu.edu:8080/~brians/errors/decimate.html

Interesting.
I suppose it is futile to think that words may retain their
definitions when there are so many ignorant wordsmiths bandying them
about.


And that points up your misconception that language is static in
nature.

I thoroughly recommend a book called Mother Tongue, by Bill Bryson.
Should you ever read it I think you'll be appalled to find that you're
just as guilty as the next 'ignorant wordsmith' when it comes to
twisting definitions - and you'll also discover that many of your
linguistic tenets have extremely suspect origins ( such as the
venerable OED ).

.....and somewhere back in the 16th century there's an URGler who's
completely bemused at both your use and spelling of the word
'futile'...and yet another who's wondering what on earth tennis has to
do with the topic in question.

Regards,



--
Stephen Howard - Woodwind repairs & period restorations
www.shwoodwind.co.uk
Emails to: showard{whoisat}shwoodwind{dot}co{dot}uk