But would you not agree that overuse, and especially misuse of such words serve only to dilute the public's understanding of the specific nature of the word?

I wish I could remember where I read it... I recall reading a whole thing on the tendency toward using industry-specific jargon as a way to identify oneself as part of an "elite".

I read a lot and a lot of what I read is from past centuries. Consequently, I run across a lot of useful words on a regular basis and after a while it just seems normal to use them in speech. I think people tend to absorb and use words that stand out to them, and not all do it to be ostentatious. I do tend to 'dumb down' my speech, precisely because of all the " there you go using big words" comments, but I don't think of the majority of my lexicon as big words at all- just underused or outdated.

I also tend to spell straight outta Oxford, so I have Mirriam Webster bookmarked to correct such mistakes. A few will slip through, but I try.

Oh, dear.

Merriam.

Lol! See?

Why are colonial era-styled fife and drum corps used to welcome the Queen of England? Isn't that rather rubbing her nose in it? Nanny-nanny-boo-boo we kicked your butts!

I'm fine with that. We did kick their arses, right?

It just doesn't seem very polite. But, I suppose I shouldn't be surprised at that.

I think they already look down their nostrils at us- I'm not going to worry about offending Elizabeth, especially since we went on to save their asses in several World Wars. History worked out the way it did, and I think they've dealt with it. Still, it won't hurt my feelings if she goes home and writes in her little diary snotty things about GW.

You know, having read a bit about the actual ceremony, dinner, etc- I am going to have to retract my claws. Her Majesty did just fine.:D

But the founding fathers are rolling in their Federalist graves.