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Jens 'n' Frens
Idle thoughts of a relatively libertarian Republican in Cambridge, MA, and whomever he invites. Mostly political.
"A strong conviction that something must be done is the parent of many bad measures."
-- Daniel Webster
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Friday, November 01, 2002 :::
I should have mentioned this before, but I guess I was in denial or something. At their last debate Tuesday night, Mitt Romney called Shannon O'Brien "unbecoming". There's been something of a flap since then, with the assertion that he wouldn't have used the word to describe a man.
I'm serious. They're really saying that.
A letter in today's Globe, by a Bradford Swing of Boston and under the headline "Romney should check dictionary," reads as follows:
When Mitt Romney claims that "unbecoming" is "a word which I would apply to a man or to a woman" ("Camps spar over Romney word choice," Page A1, Oct. 31), he might want to check the American Heritage Dictionary's first definition and usage example: "Not appropriate, attractive, or flattering: an unbecoming dress."
Would anyone ever say that a man's suit was "unbecoming"?
I assume he things the answer is "no".
I decided to check what Dictionary.com had to say. It turns out that Dictionary.com uses the American Heritage Dictionary.
I sent the Globe the following:
A letter in today's Globe points out that the American Heritage Dictionary's first definition for the word "unbecoming" uses the example, "an unbecoming dress." The writer bizarrely infers that the word can't apply to a man's suit.
But the next definition in the same dictionary reads, "not in accord with the standards implied by one's character or position: conduct unbecoming an officer." Should this be read with the understanding that the officer must be a woman?
Frankly, I'm surprised they didn't put that definition first -- I know the first phrase that comes to my mind when I hear the word is, in fact, "conduct unbecoming an officer." Dictionaries tend to be conservative, though, and I assume the word was once more common than it now is.
Incidentally, this could determine my vote. I lean toward Carla Howell on days when I'm feeling mad at Mitt, but swing back toward him when I'm angrier at Howell or O'Brien. And I'm more irritated by her asininity than you might think.
And, yes, I would use the word "asininity" for a man.
::: posted by Steven at 9:21 AM
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