"narrative"

[Shapiro, Fred]

Is the sense here "a version or projection of events based on a present trend," or is it simply a trendy synonym for "explanation" or "theory" ?

Fred Shapiro



________________________________________
From: American Dialect Society [ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU] On Behalf Of Jonathan Lighter [wuxxmupp2000 at YAHOO.COM]
Sent: Tuesday, February 26, 2008 10:17 AM
To: ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU
Subject: "narrative"

This ought to be introduced as OED 2.d, meaning  "a version or projection of events based on a present trend":

  2008 _America's Newsdesk_ (Fox News Channel) (Feb. 26):  There's a narrative out there that [Clinton] is fighting for her life.

  They've been using this sense a lot lately.  "In the Administration's narrative, the surge will, etc. etc."

  JL


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