positive "star-crossed"

[Garson O'Toole]

Nancy: Thanks for pointing out this intriguing semantic shift. Here
are two examples of "star-crossed" being used in a way that deviates
from the traditional Shakespearian meaning I think.

The term "star crossed" appears in a greeting card description at the
Papyrus website.
http://goo.gl/lrS05

[Begin excerpt]
Star Crossed Lovers

You’re a match made in the heavens. Metallic thread stitching, gems
and silver foil embellish this celestial Valentine’s Day card
featuring deep blue colors with a silhouette of a couple sitting on
the hillside.

Front: [blank]
Inside: You are the stars in my sky, you are my everying / Happy
Valentine's Day with all my love
[End excerpt]


The term "star crossed" is used in the headline of an article about a
"trouble-free" spacecraft at the independent.co.uk website.
http://goo.gl/HNmmj

[Begin excerpt]
Star crossed spacecraft nears Valentine's date
By Paul Recer, AP
Monday 14 February 2000

Trouble-free and performing as planned, a robot craft is on target to
become the first spacecraft to orbit an asteroid in a Valentine's Day
rendezvous with a space rock named for the Greek god of love.
[End excerpt]

Garson

On Sun, Feb 5, 2012 at 11:33 AM, Nancy Friedman <nancyf at wordworking.com> wrote:
> ---------------------- Information from the mail header -----------------------
> Sender:       American Dialect Society <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
> Poster:       Nancy Friedman <nancyf at WORDWORKING.COM>
> Organization: Wordworking
> Subject:      positive "star-crossed"
> -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> I've recently come across several instances of "star-crossed" used favorably
> (e.g., from a planetarium in Auckland: "Calling all star-crossed lovers .
> this Valentine's Day, love is in the stars at Stardome"). I'm looking for:
>
> .        Additional examples, especially in advertising copy.
>
> .        Theories about why and when the semantic shift occurred (I have a
> few ideas, but unlike most of you I'm no academic).
>
>
>
> Thanks!
>
>
>
> Nancy
>
>
>
> _______
>
>
>
> Word of the week:  Skijoring. http://nancyfriedman.typepad.com
>
>
>
> Nancy Friedman
>
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>
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