Blessed

[Laurence Horn]

At 5:46 PM -0500 12/15/01, Douglas G. Wilson wrote:
>  >Blessed as a verb is /blEst/
>>Blessed as an adjective is /blEs ed/
>
>I think the adjective is either way.
>
>>Are there other examples of this process?
>
>The most obvious one is "cursed".
>
>>Can anyone comment on the adjective pronunciation? Is it an emphatic
>usage started in the church (Blessed Virgin) that has become accepted?
>
>I can comment on anything, but not necessarily sensibly or cogently. I
>think the stretched versions of "blessed" and "cursed" are probably favored
>by solemn/pompous/weighty church or church-like uses. There are also poetic
>uses ("the hornéd moon") and jocular ones ("I'm not [stupid/stoopéd], I'm
>standing up straight").
>
>-- Doug Wilson

How about--in honor of the holiday season--a short-wicked candle vs.
a short, wicked elf?

larry