AboutTed Nesbitt Expertise I have an interest in the meanings of words and phrases, as well as how and when they became part of the English language. I enjoy
researching idioms, colloquialisms, dialects, and obscurities of
all kinds. I prefer short questions on a particular subject, and
I will not accept lengthy research projects or term papers. NOTE: ALLEXPERTS CLAIMS THAT I TRANSLATE FROM ENGLISH TO LATIN AND FROM LATIN TO ENGLISH. I DO NOT. ALLEXPERTS REFUSES TO DELETE THE LATIN-TO-ENGLISH SERVICE -- ONE THAT I DO NOT PROVIDE.
TRUST ME ON THIS: ALLEXPERTS IS WRONG. I DO NOT TRANSLATE FROM ENGLISH TO LANGUAGE. LOOK FOR A LANGUAGE EXPERT INSTEAD. ETYMOLOGY AND TRANSLATING SERVICES ARE ENTIRELY DIFFERENT. ALLEXPERTS SHOULD KNOW THAT. ALLEXPERTS DOES NOT KNOW THAT. I HAVE TRIED FOR MANY YEARS TO GET THEM TO CHANGE. THEY WILL NOT. SORRY, BUT I DO NOT TRANSLATE FROM ENGLISH TO LATIN.
Experience I am the bibliographic instruction and reference librarian at a public
college. My master's thesis concerns William Faulkner's tragic novels. I formerly taught advanced placement English at two schools in the Philadelphia area.
I have been a member of the grammar and writing section of Allexperts
for more than a year.
Education/Credentials Masters degrees in English, philosophy, and library science.
Question It's the word 'prosthelytize' Ted. Am I spelling it right? If so, why is it so hard to track down a definitive meaning in the usual sources - standard dictionaries, Roget's, on-line spell-chckers, the internet? Is there a subtle variation of spelling I have missed; is it a recently 'invented' word; did I make it up in my sleep?
Can you help m'sieur?
Thanks
Tony
Answer Tony:
THANK YOU for helping me. Your evaluation came through with no problems. I think that the ACTUAL problem is that the majority of people have forgotten how to say "thank you." Allexperts is a FREE service. The only person who is giving anything is the expert who gives his time, energy, etc. trying to help people. I fear that our society has reached the point where we ASSUME that everything should be given to us and that asking for a simple response is really asking TOO much.
I appreciate your assistance, Tony. Thanks again.
Ted
You are not dreaming, and the word isn't new, since it comes from the Latin -- proselytus, meaning "alien resident" -- and the Romans put it together from Greek words.
The correct spelling is this:
proselytize
By the way, Tony. Would you do me a favor and send "some" kind of evaluation back to me? During the last two weeks, I have answered more than 20 questions and just one person responded with an evaluation and nomination. I wonder if my answers are actually getting to the questioners . . . and if the questioners' evaluations are getting back to me.
