On Thu, 09 Apr 2009 17:57:42 -0700, Dan Abel wrote:

> In article >,
> "modom (palindrome guy)" > wrote:
>
>>>I thought there was a difference. I read the other posts. No, there
>>>isn't a distinct, definable difference.
>
>> grateful for that. But in this case, might we look at the verbs
>> related to those two adjectives and get a bit beyond a dictionary's
>> authority? I say this because of one of Kimberly's posts in this
>> thread. I recall that she told Barb that she would never make a fuss
>> over something that was served to her.
>
> Actually, I thought about that (looking at "fuss" and "pick") but
> decided to go with how people used them in this thread.
>
>> Might the verbs help us choose the adjectives?
>
> That was a very interesting discussion. Perhaps it will help people
> decide how they wish to use these words in the future.
>
>> OB Dictionaries. Have you read Simon Winchester's book "The Professor
>> and the Madman?" One of the most prolific contributors to the first
>> edition of the OED was a homicidal madman! A review can be had he
>> http://www.salon.com/books/sneaks/1998/09/03sneaks.html
>
> A fascinating review!
>
> "Imagine a time, Winchester asks us, when there were no dictionaries."

man, what a drag that would be! dictionaries are almost as much fun as the
english language is.

(modom - i ordered "the professor and the madman' yesterday, used from
amazon. i knew of the book, but the library didn't have it the last time i
was there.)

your pal,
blake