"reticent" abuse

Mon Sep 3 23:30:45 UTC 2007

On Sep 3, 2007, at 12:45 PM, Alison Murie wrote:

> What is it about "reticent" that draws so many people to misuse
> it?  Is it
> that it /sorta sounds like/ "hesitant" and/or "reluctant" or maybe
> "retiring"?  Marc Cooper, who oughta know better writes in the current
> /Nation/ ..."candidates of both parties are reticent to write off the
> Hawkeye State."   He does *not* mean they are keeping mum about their
> intentions.

reicent/hesitant is in Brians and MWDEU and, no doubt, other usage
references.

arnold

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