nuncio

[Jonathan Lighter]

I concur.

JL

On Tue, Aug 28, 2012 at 7:50 AM, Dave Wilton <dave at wilton.net> wrote:

> ---------------------- Information from the mail header
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> Sender:       American Dialect Society <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
> Poster:       Dave Wilton <dave at WILTON.NET>
> Subject:      Re: nuncio
>
> -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> As far as I know, "nuncio," usually "papal nuncio," is used only to refer
> to
> a Vatican diplomat or diplomatic mission, although not necessarily to one
> of
> ambassadorial rank--any priest assigned to a diplomatic post is a "nuncio."
> I've never seen it used for other church officials, and it someone did, I
> would assume they didn't know the meaning of the word.
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: American Dialect Society [mailto:ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU] On Behalf
> Of
> Victor Steinbok
> Sent: Monday, August 27, 2012 10:58 PM
> To: ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU
> Subject: nuncio
>
> OED WOTD today is "nuncio". The primary meaning is given as " 1. R.C.
> Church. A papal ambassador to a foreign court or government." Then, more
> broadly, as "messenger". (Also member of the Polish Diet, but that's
> irrelevant.) I'd like to know if I have not been imagining routine movie
> and
> news references to "nuncio" as either the Pope himself, rather than his
> ambassador or messenger, or to high-ranking members of the Church
> hierarchy,
> such as cardinals and archbishops. My recollection is somewhat vague on
> this
> subject, but I believe it to be the case.
>
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