INFOWORLD GRIPE LINE BY ED FOSTER Bookmark this page

  
Replying To:
Octopodes is not correct either[ Parent ] (none / 0) (#66)
by zorrojd on Fri Dec 10, 2004 at 03:22:04 PM PDT

According to my Webster's New Collegiate Dictionary, the preferred plural form of octopus is actually octopuses and the second preferred is octopi. And to try to put this off-topic thread to rest, Webster's lists loci as the plural of locus and, believe it or not, Webster's New Collegiate Dictionary lists NO plural form of the word virus. Virus is both singular and plural, just as it stands. This is confirmed by a quick search on Merriam-Webster Online, and a check of Encyclopedia Britannica Online also confirms it. Just in case you might be interested, the word virus derives from a Latin word meaning "slimy liquid" or "poison".

[ Parent ]


Post Comment

You are not logged in. If you don't have a user account yet, by all means go make one! If you do have one, you can post as "yourself" by filling in your nickname and password below. Otherwise, your comment will be posted as Anonymous User.

Create Account
Nickname:
Password:

Post Comment: Post your comment below and then please answer the security question. I apologize for the inconvenience, but it does help deter spammers. -- Ed Foster
Subject:
Comment:

To post your comment, please answer the following security question:
 Which of the following is not one of the United States?
Maryland, Wyoming, Vermont, Toyota, Missouri, Texas
Allowed HTML: <A [HREF] [NAME]> <DT> <TT></TT> <OL></OL> <CITE></CITE> <CODE></CODE> <I></I> <UL></UL> <BR> <STRONG></STRONG> <BLOCKQUOTE [TYPE]></BLOCKQUOTE> <DD> <EM></EM> <P> <B></B> <LI> <DL></DL>
Menu
· create account
· faq
· search

Login
Make a new account
Username:
Password:

 HOME  NEWS  COLUMNS  BLOGS  PODCASTS  TECHNOLOGIES  TEST CENTER  EVENTS  CAREERS  IT EXEC-CONNECT   About Awards Contact Us 

Copyright © 2006, Reprints, Permissions, Licensing, IDG Network, Privacy Policy.
All Rights reserved. InfoWorld is a leading publisher of technology information and product reviews on topics including viruses,
phishing, worms, firewalls, security, servers, storage, networking, wireless, databases, and web services.

 ComputerWorld :: LinuxWorld :: Network World :: CIO :: PC World :: Darwin :: CMO :: CSO
IT Careers :: JavaWorld :: Macworld :: Mac Central :: Playlist :: GamePro :: GameStar :: Gamerhelp
ITWorld Canada :: Computerwoche :: Techworld UK :: tecChannel :: IDG.se :: IDG.no :: IDG.pl

create account | faq | search