the Z-word

[Jonathan Lighter]

Note the unremarkable-for-some nominalization of "zany" in the
tradition of "engineering amazing."

JL

On Thu, Dec 15, 2011 at 3:49 AM, Victor Steinbok <aardvark66 at gmail.com> wrote:
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> Sender:       American Dialect Society <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
> Poster:       Victor Steinbok <aardvark66 at GMAIL.COM>
> Subject:      the Z-word
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>
> At least that's how some reporters joked about it:
>
>> Mitt Romney is sharpening his warning to Republicans about the
>> consequences of nominating Newt Gingrich, declaring in an interview on
>> Wednesday: "Zany is not what we need in a president." … "Zany is great
>> in a campaign. It's great on talk radio. It's great in print, it makes
>> for fun reading," Mr. Romney told The New York Times
>
> This is one way of calling someone crazy without actually saying the
> word. In fact, "z" is one thing "crazy" and "zany" have in common.
>
> VS-)
>
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