Vals Kilmer (like "attorneys general"?)

[Jonathan Lighter]

I'm skeptical.

  JL

Wilson Gray <hwgray at GMAIL.COM> wrote:
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Sender: American Dialect Society
Poster: Wilson Gray
Subject: Re: Vals Kilmer (like "attorneys general"?)
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Know why a major general is outranked by a lieutenant general, though a
major outranks a lieutenant? Supposedly, the reason is that a major general
was originally a sergeant-major general and lieutenants outrank sergeants.

-Wilson

On 3/27/06, Jonathan Lighter wrote:
>
> ---------------------- Information from the mail header
> -----------------------
> Sender: American Dialect Society
> Poster: Jonathan Lighter
> Subject: Re: Vals Kilmer (like "attorneys general"?)
>
> -------------------------------------------------------------------------=
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>
> "To my knowledge, no one ever calls the Surgeon General 'General.'
> 'Doctor' is used instead."
>
> Read all about it: http://www.cardozo.yu.edu/life/spring2003/generals/ =
.
>
> JL
>
> Beverly Flanigan wrote:
> ---------------------- Information from the mail header
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> Sender: American Dialect Society
> Poster: Beverly Flanigan
> Subject: Re: Vals Kilmer (like "attorneys general"?)
>
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>
> The Surgeon General is always addressed as General.
>
> At 01:34 PM 3/27/2006, you wrote:
> >I think the question was about how attorneys general are addressed. When
> >Alberto Gonzales appears before congress, is he addressed as General
> >Gonzales? I think this happens at least sometimes.
> >
> >-Matt Gordon
> >
> >
> >On 3/27/06 11:43 AM, "Dennis R. Preston"
> wrote:
> >
> > > I guess I don't understand. If he is the attorney for general
> > > matters, then he is a "general attorney," just like a court martial
> > > is court (N) plus martial (adj) a "military court."
> > >
> > > dInIs
> > >
> >
> > >> ~~~~~~~~~~~
> > >> I've no beef with adjectives following nouns, a la francais. This
> still
> > >> doesn't explain why we address this (general interest) attorney as
> > >> "General" if it isn't meant as a rank.....?
> > >> AM
> > >>
> > >>
> > >>
> >
> ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^=
^^
> > >> W stands for >:< War ____Waste___Wiretaps____Witchhunts >:<
> > >>
> >
> ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^=
^^
> > >>
> > >> ------------------------------------------------------------
> > >> The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org
> > >
> > >
> > > --
> > > Dennis R. Preston
> > > University Distinguished Professor
> > > Department of English
> > > Morrill Hall 15-C
> > > Michigan State University
> > > East Lansing, MI 48824-1036 USA
> > > Office: (517) 353-4736
> > > Fax: (517) 353-3755
> > >
> > > ------------------------------------------------------------
> > > The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org
> >
> >------------------------------------------------------------
> >The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org
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