New words/vocab on these fora, boards..

[Oldjohnw]

One thing for sure is that the word 'forae' of this heading us a new word. It isn't part of the declension of forum

[Elizabeth_S]

Not one I use here, but a favourite of mine to use
dogsposal unit
feeding the dog odds and ends, usually bits of veg or crumbs while preparing food
If you have a dog, you'll know what I mean!

[colin54]

Shouldn't the title read 'This Forum' anyway, it's called 'Cycling UK Forum' - singular ?

[Oldjohnw]

Is virii a new word here? I have never come across it anywhere else.

[Oldjohnw]

Shouldn't the title read 'This Forum' anyway, it's called 'Cycling UK Forum' - singular ?

In the original Latin usage the plural of forum is fora.

In the specific modern usage the plural is forums. Forae is not a word in either language.

[Audax67]

Not one I use here, but a favourite of mine to use
dogsposal unit
feeding the dog odds and ends, usually bits of veg or crumbs while preparing food
If you have a dog, you'll know what I mean!

I like canine pre-rinse cycle, i.e. letting the dogs lick the plates before they go in the dishwasher.

[thirdcrank]

Ultimately, usage prevails but meaning may be lost on the way.

"Forensic" used to be an adjective derived from forum and it meant connected with the courts or legal system.

Has any meaning been lost? I don't think the past tense - "meant" - applies. Forensic still means exactly what you say it means, to do with the courts. That's why there are such things as forensic accountants, forensic psychologists etc.

Among the relevant professions, this may be so, but I think that these days, most people who hear the word forensic think in terms of the wombles. I do remember around 25 years ago saying to a solicitor that a forensic medical examination was needed and he clearly thought I was losing it, bearing in mind we were discussing a living person and not a corpse. I wonder how often the people you mention have to explain what they do. It's a pity, because we have no alternative word but its meaning has IMO drifted.

(Wombles was an acronym when I was still working and I've been retired 23 years. It stands for something like White Overalled Men with Blue Elasticated Shoes.)

[Cyril Haearn]

Words can be misused, we must fight against this by using them correctly, as for example with 'may' and 'can'

+1 for wombles, I have Uncle Bulgaria as a small cuddly toy

[Oldjohnw]

Shall and will?

[matt_twam_asi]

Shouldn't the title read 'This Forum' anyway, it's called 'Cycling UK Forum' - singular ?

In the original Latin usage the plural of forum is fora.

In the specific modern usage the plural is forums. Forae is not a word in either language.

On a related topic, I've only ever seen virii used in reference to the computer kind, and even then it was intended to be ironic (virii = 2 viruses. viriii - 3 viruses. viriv = 4 viruses etc.) What say you, latin scholars of this fora, forae, forums bulletin board?

[mikeymo]

Ultimately, usage prevails but meaning may be lost on the way.

"Forensic" used to be an adjective derived from forum and it meant connected with the courts or legal system.

Has any meaning been lost? I don't think the past tense - "meant" - applies. Forensic still means exactly what you say it means, to do with the courts. That's why there are such things as forensic accountants, forensic psychologists etc.

Among the relevant professions, this may be so, but I think that these days, most people who hear the word forensic think in terms of the wombles. I do remember around 25 years ago saying to a solicitor that a forensic medical examination was needed and he clearly thought I was losing it, bearing in mind we were discussing a living person and not a corpse. I wonder how often the people you mention have to explain what they do. It's a pity, because we have no alternative word but its meaning has IMO drifted.

(Wombles was an acronym when I was still working and I've been retired 23 years. It stands for something like White Overalled Men with Blue Elasticated Shoes.)

I'm not in any of the "relevant" professions, and I know that it means - to do with the courts or legal system. But it seems to be widespread that people think they don't need to know the meaning of any words if they are at all "specialist" or "scientific" or "technical". I would rather hope that those people might be eliminated in some sort of linguistic Darwinian process, but I suppose only the most naive doctor would expect to ask a patient if the pain in the lower right abdomen was chronic or acute and diagnose accordingly.

"Literally" is pretty much gone, that horse has well and truly bolted. Literally.

I still cling to the wreckage of "data", to no avail though. My brother with his English degree tells me it's a mass noun, but I'm having none of it. It's the plural of datum. I might start using datums instead, as using data correctly - "these data are" - just makes me sound like an illiterate buffoon, especially with a northern accent.

[mikeymo]

Shouldn't the title read 'This Forum' anyway, it's called 'Cycling UK Forum' - singular ?

In the original Latin usage the plural of forum is fora.

In the specific modern usage the plural is forums. Forae is not a word in either language.

On a related topic, I've only ever seen virii used in reference to the computer kind, and even then it was intended to be ironic (virii = 2 viruses. viriii - 3 viruses. viriv = 4 viruses etc.) What say you, latin scholars of this fora, forae, forums bulletin board?

Yes, virii is a joke. A joke that some people don't get, in which case it's on them. Possibly the same people who correct - "and there you have it - viola!!"

[mikeymo]

Words can be misused, we must fight against this by using them correctly, as for example with 'may' and 'can'

OK then, so far we've got the plural of 'forum' to be careful about, and the correct use of 'may' and 'can'.

You've used 'fora' many times, and mentioned the second example often too.

But are there any other misuses which you think it would be good to carefully watch out for?

[thirdcrank]

Split infinitives.

[mikeymo]

Split infinitives.

Well done. 10 points. Any more?