mutual

[Dan Goncharoff]

I suspect the Mutual of Omaha is a mutual, as are many insurance companies.
What makes them "mutual" is that they are owned strictly by policyholders.
Good ole Ben Franklin started the first one in the US.
DanG

On Thu, May 19, 2011 at 3:17 PM, 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:      mutual
>
> -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Under mutual n. B.1.a there are four examples from 1869-1993. The
> definition
> says "A mutual company or society", but every example has "mutuals" in
> plural.
>
> Just heard a Nationwide ad on TV that has as a part of the script something
> like, "We don't have to please shareholders 'because we are a mutual'." The
> wording is a bit off, but not the last clause (hence the nested quotes).
> I'd
> thought I'd share it before I see the same spot again and get the exact
> wording.
>
> VS-)
>
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