acronym (was re: uniting two old threads...)

[Mark A. Mandel]

Laurence Horn <laurence.horn at YALE.EDU> scripsit:
>>>

1)  What was it we were going to call the "Nabisco", "Gestapo",
"Comintern" type formations, which are to syllables what acronyms are
to letters?  Here's another one...

<<<

ISTR the definition of "acronym" as referring to the first parts of the
component words, not just their initials.

Merriam-Webster Online says:

    >>>>>

: a word (as NATO, radar, or snafu) formed from the initial letter or
letters of each of the successive parts or major parts of a compound term;
also : an abbreviation (as FBI) formed from initial letters : INITIALISM

 <<<<<

OED Online:

    >>>>>

A word formed from the initial letters of other words.

 <<<<<

Hmph. Merriam-Webster is more precise on every aspect of the definition.
Jesse, I think you have some catching up to do here.

-- Mark
[This text prepared with Dragon NaturallySpeaking.]

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