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Discussion Groups / British English / September 2005Dilemma
I have always been good at spelling (but not necessarily typing) and am more than half a century old. I am convinced that when I was a very young person 'dilemma' was spelt 'dilemna', the odd 'mn' as in 'autumn' is what struck me at the time. I was shocked later (it isn't a word one bumps into often) to find that it was spelt 'dilemma', so either the cunning devils have changed it over the years or I imagined the whole thing. Anyone any ideas on this? > I have always been good at spelling (but not necessarily typing) and > am more than half a century old. I am convinced that when I was a very [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > either the cunning devils have changed it over the years or I > imagined the whole thing. Anyone any ideas on this? Well, if you are not particularly familiar with 'dilemma', you are unlikely to know about 'lemma'. I can't account for the origin of your confusion - perhaps you are mispronouncing the word? Google suggests that the misspelling is appallingly frequent: overwhelmingly from the USA, the land of the spelling bee, but Webster appears to be blameless in this case.  SignatureJohn Briggs > I am convinced that when I was a very > young person 'dilemma' was spelt 'dilemna'...later (it isn't a word one > bumps into often) to find that it was spelt 'dilemma', Unlikely, given the etymology (people knew Greek back then): "Dilemma: 1523, from L.L. dilemma, from Gk. dilemma "double proposition," a technical term in rhetoric, from di- "two" + lemma "premise, anything taken," from base *lab-. It should be used only of situations where someone is forced to choose between two alternatives, both unfavorable to him." from http://www.etymonline.com/ Dial M for dilemma. Or, if you really want to get philosophical, try the Dial-a-Lama. Paul Burke >I have always been good at spelling (but not necessarily typing) and am >more than half a century old. I am convinced that when I was a very [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] >cunning devils have changed it over the years or I imagined the whole >thing. Anyone any ideas on this? I think that your second alternative is the correct one. :) SignatureJohn Hall "Do you have cornflakes in America?" "Well, actually, they're American." "So what brings you to Britain then if you have cornflakes already?" Bill Bryson: "Notes from a Small Island" >> I have always been good at spelling (but not necessarily typing) and >> am more than half a century old. I am convinced that when I was a [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] >> > I think that your second alternative is the correct one. :) It certainly seems like it, goodness knows why though. As I said, I was usually pretty good on these things. Maybe I noticed it when it was mispelt and so took it for the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. > I have always been good at spelling (but not necessarily typing) and > am more than half a century old. I am convinced that when I was a very [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > either the cunning devils have changed it over the years or I > imagined the whole thing. Anyone any ideas on this? OED contains to reference to the "dilemna" spelling, and says that the word "dilemma" is linked with "lemma". -- Mike Stevens narrowboat Felis Catus II Web site www.mike-stevens.co.uk No man is an island. So is Man. > OED contains to reference to the "dilemna" spelling, and says that > the word "dilemma" is linked with "lemma". What form does the reference take? Does it say "chiefly US" or similar? SignatureJohn Briggs >> OED contains to reference to the "dilemna" spelling, and says that >> the word "dilemma" is linked with "lemma". > >What form does the reference take? Does it say "chiefly US" or similar? My guess is that the "to" in Mike's post was intended to read "no". SignatureJohn Hall "[It was] so steep that at intervals the street broke into steps, like a person breaking into giggles or hiccups, and then resumed its sober climb, until it had another fit of steps." Ursula K Le Guin "The Beginning Place" >> OED contains to reference to the "dilemna" spelling, and says that >> the word "dilemma" is linked with "lemma". > > What form does the reference take? Does it say "chiefly US" or > similar? Sorry - meant to type "no reference". -- Mike Stevens narrowboat Felis Catus II Web site www.mike-stevens.co.uk No man is an island. So is Man. >I have always been good at spelling (but not necessarily typing) and am >more than half a century old. I am convinced that when I was a very [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] >cunning devils have changed it over the years or I imagined the whole >thing. Anyone any ideas on this? Perhaps you're suffering from ammesia in the autumm of your years. SignaturePhil C. > >I have always been good at spelling (but not necessarily typing) and am > >more than half a century old. I am convinced that when I was a very [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > > Perhaps you're suffering from ammesia in the autumm of your years. Dammed dilemmas... >>> I have always been good at spelling (but not necessarily typing) >>> and am more than half a century old. I am convinced that when I was [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] >> >> Perhaps you're suffering from ammesia in the autumm of your years. > Dammed dilemmas... LOL |
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