This was accidentlly sent to me personally (RB)
------------------------------------------------
Hello!
This is my first post so bear with me, please!
There is a word that has driven me insane since the first time I heard it used by John Madden during a Packer football game. Because I detest John Madden for his constant mangling of the English language, I immediately assumed he had made up the word. Yesterday I found the word in the dictionary and almost had a stroke...it was (and is) a perfectly normal word, but I have decided that I still hate it because I first heard the word come out of John Madden's mouth. Would you be interested in discussing this word? It is (dare I write it?): Disrespecting!
I don't know if this is the proper forum for asking about the origin of words. Please forgive me if it is not.
Thank you,
Carol A. Kopp
Disrespecting--a word?
- Dr. Goodword
- Site Admin
- Posts: 7607
- Joined: Wed Feb 02, 2005 9:28 am
- Location: Lewisburg, PA
- Contact:
Disrespecting--a word?
• The Good Dr. Goodword
According to the on-line etymology dictionary, the verb is attested in 1614 and the noun in 1631. The noun appears in John Dryden's "Discourses on Satire and Epic Poetry":
Somewhat of laziness was in the case, and somewhat too of modesty; but nothing of disrespect or of unthankfulness.
I'm not sure of the date of Dryden's "Discourses," but it has to be after 1631 as he was born that year. Well, I suppose he could have been exceptionally precocious.
Anyway both the noun and the verb have a long and illustrious history.
Somewhat of laziness was in the case, and somewhat too of modesty; but nothing of disrespect or of unthankfulness.
I'm not sure of the date of Dryden's "Discourses," but it has to be after 1631 as he was born that year. Well, I suppose he could have been exceptionally precocious.
Anyway both the noun and the verb have a long and illustrious history.
Who is online
Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 1 guest