rectangle vs. square

[Robin Hamilton]

> ---------------------- Information from the mail
> header -----------------------
> Sender:       American Dialect Society <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
> Poster:       Dan Goncharoff <thegonch at GMAIL.COM>
> Subject:      Re: rectangle vs. square
> -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> First, when did "rectangle" ever include "oblong"?

Wictionary:  OBLONG:  2.  A rectangle having length greater than width.

Thus, the set of Rectangles is (fully) comprised of two exclusive subsets:
Squares [rectangles with four equal sides] and Oblongs [rectangles with
sides of two equal lengths -- i.e. all members of the set 'Rectangle' which
aren't members of the subset, 'Square'].

> Second, what would be the justification for using "ellipse" when
> describing
> a circle, or rectangle for square? It may be correct, but it's not
> informative.

It makes perfect sense if you think in Venn diagrams.  <g>

Robin

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