Folk etymology definition

[Mark Mandel]

No, I don't think Dave does mean they knew what they were doing. Quoting the
kernel (IMHO) of each definition from his posts:

 1. (technical) taking an unfamiliar word and modifying it to a form that is
familiar

 2. (more general) a commonly held belief, often but not necessarily untrue,
about the origin of a word or phrase.

Awareness has nothing to do with these. Dave, do you concur?

--
Mark Mandel

On Sat, Mar 8, 2008 at 1:31 AM, Dennis Preston <preston at msu.edu> wrote:

> You mean the people who folk-etymologized "bridegumer" knew what they
> were doing? Unless you are distinguishing between process and result,
> I till don't get it.
>
> dInIs
>
>
>

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