when "intercourse" got funny

[Benjamin Zimmer]

On 9/28/06, Amorelli <mariam11 at virgilio.it> wrote:
>
> This would seem to be in line with the liberal use of 'ejaculate', by
> luminaries such as Agatha Christie, with the meaning of 'blurt'.

Or Charles Dickens, as in this now-unfortunate line from _David Copperfield_:

"The heartiness of the ejaculation startled Mr. Dick exceedingly; and
me, too, if I am to tell the truth."
http://www.bartleby.com/307/13.html


--Ben Zimmer

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