[Ads-l] susPECT, n.

[Ben Zimmer]

In JL's original thread back in 2017, I wrote:

You can hear a relevant clip from "The Thin Man" in this episode of
> the podcast Lexicon Valley, wherein John McWhorter discusses the
> stress shift in "suspect" and similar cases (starting about 5 minutes
> in).
>
>
> http://www.slate.com/articles/podcasts/lexicon_valley/2016/08/how_pronunciation_changes_as_terms_go_from_new_to_mainstream.html
>

That link no longer has the audio from the podcast, but you can find it
here:

https://player.megaphone.fm/SM6385946921

On Tue, Sep 12, 2023 at 7:35 PM Jonathan Lighter <wuxxmupp2000 at gmail.com>
wrote:

> In "The Thin Man" (1934), both William Powell and Myrna Loy very clearly
> say "susPECT" (n.).
>
> JL
>
> On Mon, Oct 31, 2022 at 10:58 AM Jonathan Lighter <wuxxmupp2000 at gmail.com>
> wrote:
>
> > Just caught "The Kennel Murder Case" (1933).
> >
> > Three actors, including William Powell and Mary Astor, say susPECT (n.)
> > more than once.
> >
> > Also, the word "butcher" (slang for an organization surgeon or physician)
> > is used to mean "medical examiner": "I'm the city butcher."
> >
> > JL
> >
> > On Mon, May 1, 2017 at 2:21 PM Wilson Gray <hwgray at gmail.com> wrote:
> >
> >> On Sun, Apr 30, 2017 at 8:32 PM, Jonathan Lighter <
> wuxxmupp2000 at gmail.com
> >> >
> >> wrote:
> >>
> >> > All units. On the broadcast of the susPECT arrested in the shooting of
> >> > Patrolman Rawlins. Cancel the cancellation. susPECT released from
> >> custody."
> >> >
> >> > Cf. perMIT, n.
> >> >
> >>
> >> I either haven't heard or haven't noticed "susPECT," but "perMIT" has
> been
> >> common as a noun amongst the colored since God got upset about the Tower
> >> of
> >> Babel.
>

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