E.O.Wilson, Etymologist

[Fred Shapiro]

On Sat, 30 Jun 2007, sagehen wrote:

> Scott Simon, no stranger to the mis-chosen, misused word, did it again:
> identified his guest, biologist E.O.Wilson, as an "etymologist" on Weekend
> Edition this morning (6/30).

Over 25 years ago I talked with E. O. Wilson about the earliest uses of
the term _sociobiology_.  He gave me some good citations, which now
constitute the first three citations in the OED (although I believe I
subsequently sent them still earlier evidence for this word).  So I think
you could perhaps refer to him as an "etymologist."

Fred Shapiro


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