Qualifiable favorite?

[Dennis R. Preston]

>Webster's 10th Collegiate gives (definition #3) "UNUSUAL" for
>unique. Hence, by deinfition (#3), it is qualifiable. It must be so;
>it says so in the dictionary. (It even has a nice little mini-essay
>about people who don't like def. #3.)

dInIs




>On Thu, 29 Aug 2002 12:53:31 -0400 Laurence Horn
>
>>  and don't forget our old friend, "most unique", "very unique", etc.
>>  Certainly "almost unique" is unobjectionable, but these
>>  superlatives
>>  have been objected to (and are also widely used).
>
>I don't see the parallel between "unique" and "favorite." "Unique" is by
>definition unqualifiable, but in a class of ten items you can favor or
>have special regard for three or four of them. In a group of several
>favorites, the one I hold in highest regard I call my "very favorite."
>Haven't seen that come up. Is it ususual?
>
>D

--
Dennis R. Preston
Professor of Linguistics
Department of Linguistics and Languages
740 Wells Hall A
Michigan State University
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