Julieofsardis Posted January 29, 2009 Share Posted January 29, 2009 He swears that he learned in his science class that the plural of opposum is opposii. Like the plural of octopus is octopii. I think he's lost his mind, or whoever taught him that has. What do you think? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spy Car Posted January 29, 2009 Share Posted January 29, 2009 Even "octopi" is dubious. Quoting Wikipedia: The Oxford English Dictionary lists octopuses, octopi and octopodes (in that order); it labels octopodes "rare", and notes that octopi derives from the mistaken assumption that octōpūs is a second declension Latin noun, which it is not. Rather, it is (Latinized) Greek, from oktṓpous (ὀκτώπους), gender masculine, whose plural is oktṓpodes (ὀκτώποδες). If the word were native to Latin, it would be octōpēs ('eight-foot') and the plural octōpedes, analogous to centipedes and mīllipedes, as the plural form of pēs ('foot') is pedes. In modern Greek, it is called khtapódi (χταπόδι), gender neuter, with plural form khtapódia (χταπόδια). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lovedtodeath Posted January 29, 2009 Share Posted January 29, 2009 I am pretty sure that they called them oposii on iCarly. It is a Nickelodeon teen show. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lovedtodeath Posted January 29, 2009 Share Posted January 29, 2009 So Bill, should it be octopodes then? Is that a long o? I think I have heard it pronounced with a short o. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
newlifemom Posted January 29, 2009 Share Posted January 29, 2009 Even "octopi" is dubious. Quoting Wikipedia: The Oxford English Dictionary lists octopuses, octopi and octopodes (in that order); it labels octopodes "rare", and notes that octopi derives from the mistaken assumption that octōpūs is a second declension Latin noun, which it is not. Rather, it is (Latinized) Greek, from oktṓpous (ὀκτώπους), gender masculine, whose plural is oktṓpodes (ὀκτώποδες). If the word were native to Latin, it would be octōpēs ('eight-foot') and the plural octōpedes, analogous to centipedes and mīllipedes, as the plural form of pēs ('foot') is pedes. In modern Greek, it is called khtapódi (χταπόδι), gender neuter, with plural form khtapódia (χταπόδια). 1st there is Bill. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
newlifemom Posted January 29, 2009 Share Posted January 29, 2009 I am pretty sure that they called them oposii on iCarly. It is a Nickelodeon teen show. And then there is all of us who are not Bill. :lol: (Sorry, couldn't resist. Just loved the whole references to Latin, Greek and the OED, next to Nickelodeon) :leaving: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lovedtodeath Posted January 29, 2009 Share Posted January 29, 2009 :smilielol5: :hurray: Pam, that was good! I am cracking up. I wasn't saying iCarly was correct, I was saying that maybe her son remembered it from that, rather than science class. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
newlifemom Posted January 29, 2009 Share Posted January 29, 2009 BTW Bill, I just want you to know that next to the Bible, I consider the OED my favorite book(s). :D If I had to do it all over again I think I would study the history of word usage. Preferably in England. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lovedtodeath Posted January 29, 2009 Share Posted January 29, 2009 BTW Bill, I just want you to know that next to the Bible, I consider the OED my favorite book(s). :D If I had to do it all over again I think I would study the history of word usage. Preferably in England. I just have to point out that Bill was quoting wikipedia. Everytime I quote wikipedia I get a lecture about the fact that the information there is unverifiable.:glare: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spy Car Posted January 29, 2009 Share Posted January 29, 2009 I just have to point out that Bill was quoting wikipedia. Everytime I quote wikipedia I get a lecture about the fact that the information there is unverifiable.:glare: I was going to quote H. W. Fowler, whose article on the subject I read recently in Modern English Usage but cutting and pasting from Wikipedia was so much more expedient :D Bill (lazy, what can I tell you :tongue_smilie:) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lovedtodeath Posted January 29, 2009 Share Posted January 29, 2009 He he, I always cut and paste when I can as well. It's easier. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Unicorn. Posted January 29, 2009 Share Posted January 29, 2009 (edited) Well, as the o is silent, and it is pronounced possum..... I have a couple of opossums that come around here at night, I could go ask them for you. ;0) ETA: according to Webster's, it is opposums. I asked the little creatures themselves, but they just showed me their teeth and ran off! Edited January 29, 2009 by Unicorn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Julieofsardis Posted January 29, 2009 Author Share Posted January 29, 2009 I think my dd mentioned something about that show on Nick. That's probably where he got it. He is just convinced that he is right. LOL I'm assuming they were being funny on that show and not serious? So, we're in agreement that there is no such word? Thanks all!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spy Car Posted January 29, 2009 Share Posted January 29, 2009 BTW Bill, I just want you to know that next to the Bible, I consider the OED my favorite book(s). :D If I had to do it all over again I think I would study the history of word usage. Preferably in England. I always wanted to own the full set. We do get online access through or library (which I use all the time) but at home I sure love the two-volume The Shorter Oxford English Dictionary. I love the history of words and word usage as well. Say, have you ever read a book called The Loom of Language by Frederick Bodmer? Absolutely fascinating book on language, the evolution of English and its relationship to romance and germanic languages, strategies for learning additional languages. And, because it was written during the late-stages of WWII some naively hopeful notions about world peace. It's a weird mix, but for a person who loves words and the development of language, it is a book you might enjoy. Bill Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SonshineLearner Posted January 29, 2009 Share Posted January 29, 2009 Well, as the o is silent, and it is pronounced possum..... I have a couple of opossums that come around here at night, I could go ask them for you. ;0) ETA: according to Webster's, it is opposums. I asked the little creatures themselves, but they just showed me their teeth and ran off! Wow, your opossums ran off? That's amazing. Our WILD opossoms just kinda use to look at us as though we were interrupting them and continue munching on whatever they were eating, before we were so unkind as to try to get them off of our porch! Carrie:-) Who doesn't ever want to see another one again!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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