Main      Site Guide    
Message Forum
Re: Changes of word meaning
Posted By: Sam, on host 209.6.138.216
Date: Sunday, July 25, 1999, at 11:56:31
In Reply To: Changes of word meaning posted by Kwirq on Sunday, July 25, 1999, at 10:21:41:

> That sounds a lot like the word "peruse," which in theory means, or at least, used to mean, "to study attentively," but by common usage means "to examine cursorily."

No it doesn't! No! No! No! No dictionary I know has that definition at all. It's not a legitimate meaning for the word; it's just a common misunderstanding by people who don't know any better. (Actually I even disagree that it means "examine cursorily" by common usage -- that may be a common mistake, but, thank heaven, I do think it's actually still more common to see the word used correctly.)

Replies To This Message