Discussion Groups / English Usage / August 2008

Merriam-Webster:
usage Enormity, some people insist, is improperly used to denote large
size. They insist on enormousness for this meaning, and would limit
enormity to the meaning “great wickedness.” Those who urge such a
limitation may not recognize the subtlety with which enormity is
actually used. It regularly denotes a considerable departure from the
expected or normal <they awakened; they sat up; and then the enormity
of their situation burst upon them. “How did the fire start?” — John
Steinbeck>. When used to denote large size, either literal or
figurative, it usually suggests something so large as to seem
overwhelming <no intermediate zone of study. Either the enormity of
the desert or the sight of a tiny flower — Paul Theroux> <the enormity
of the task of teachers in slum schools — J. B. Conant> and may even
be used to suggest both great size and deviation from morality <the
enormity of existing stockpiles of atomic weapons — New Republic>. It
can also emphasize the momentousness of what has happened <the sombre
enormity of the Russian Revolution — George Steiner> or of its
consequences <perceived as no one in the family could the enormity of
the misfortune — E. L. Doctorow>.

I must have missed something on our TV. What are you guys talking
about?

R H Draney set the following eddies spiralling through the space-time
continuum:

As this is an international group, could we please be spared reference to
the political machinations going on in one particular country leading up to
some election or other (still two months or so away AIUI) except insofar as
they fall within the nominal remit of this group.