tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3607123.post6692311295682237712..comments2023-11-02T12:15:47.847+00:00Comments on Quinquireme: The Plural Of 'Penis' Is 'Penises'patroclushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01933476561340044351noreply@blogger.comBlogger31125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3607123.post-66326247028948781582009-05-22T12:42:57.760+01:002009-05-22T12:42:57.760+01:00Been enjoying this string of blogs burd (came over...Been enjoying this string of blogs burd (came over here from the hotel toiletries one)...but I regret to inform you that the plural of corpus is actually corpora :-)sarrastronoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3607123.post-44170139827678847082008-05-19T10:30:00.000+01:002008-05-19T10:30:00.000+01:00Thanks Llewtrah and Oli, now we're building up a v...Thanks Llewtrah and Oli, now we're building up a valuable corpus (plural 'corpuses', as far as I'm concerned) of reliable information about plurals.patroclushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01933476561340044351noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3607123.post-91819706008119783022008-05-19T08:48:00.000+01:002008-05-19T08:48:00.000+01:00Octopuses, as the word's of Greek rather than Lati...Octopuses, as the word's of Greek rather than Latin origin. God bless QI.Olihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03302441388002744047noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3607123.post-55786025632728837422008-05-19T07:25:00.000+01:002008-05-19T07:25:00.000+01:00The plural of penis is penes.The plural of clitori...The plural of penis is penes.<BR/><BR/>The plural of clitoris is clitorides.<BR/><BR/>Some of us did a bit of Greek (oo-er) in our classical languages education :)llewtrahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06056744147599140057noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3607123.post-92179980214435240322008-05-17T09:41:00.000+01:002008-05-17T09:41:00.000+01:00Hooray! The "little breadses" are back!Hooray! The "little breadses" are back!Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15842622672253226570noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3607123.post-14556931763851634952008-05-17T09:16:00.000+01:002008-05-17T09:16:00.000+01:00That's exactly it BiB - if you're going to be need...That's exactly it BiB - if you're going to be needlessly pretentious, at least make an effort to get it right. But why be needlessly pretentious? Can't he just say 'fiascoes', like anyone else? If you were going to a look at a number of wall paintings, would you say you were going to see some 'freschi'? (Or, in Matthew Norman's case, 'fresci'?). Surely you'd just say you were going to look at some frescoes?<BR/><BR/>Mind you if I was going by my own logic I would happily stand by and see people refer to 'paninis', and 'a panini'. But I can't. Oh, I really am the worst kind of pedant.patroclushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01933476561340044351noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3607123.post-80564527688169716712008-05-16T22:39:00.000+01:002008-05-16T22:39:00.000+01:00Sorry to go off at a plural tangent, but I have ju...Sorry to go off at a plural tangent, but I have just spotted Matthew Norman in The Independent using 'fiasci'. He must be taking the piss, mustn't he?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3607123.post-23795681587792639712008-05-16T20:46:00.000+01:002008-05-16T20:46:00.000+01:00I always go for cocks myself (nudge nudge wink win...I always go for cocks myself (nudge nudge wink wink)Jaynehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09821105000840199542noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3607123.post-7850058789939101942008-05-16T14:14:00.000+01:002008-05-16T14:14:00.000+01:00ah yes, the 'r'Oops.ah yes, the 'r'<BR/>Oops.GreatSheElephanthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06589100964804729527noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3607123.post-86273060224004869982008-05-16T11:11:00.000+01:002008-05-16T11:11:00.000+01:00Smat: Easy - because it's too tinky to be seen by ...Smat: Easy - because it's too tinky to be seen by the naked eye.<BR/><BR/>(TinkyWinky that is, not Daddy **ALERT ALERT EDITORIAL POLICY BREACH IMMINENT**)<BR/><BR/>GSE: If 'conundrum' was really a gerund it would be 'conundum', and I haven't a clue what it would mean. I've never heard anyone refer to a 'datum', although I've heard people using 'data' as a plural several times - 'the data are pretty conclusive', and so on. Which, although correct, sounds odd.patroclushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01933476561340044351noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3607123.post-24853333340550552022008-05-16T10:41:00.000+01:002008-05-16T10:41:00.000+01:00conundrum has nothing to do with Latin? Sounds lik...conundrum has nothing to do with Latin? Sounds like a gerund. How disappointing.<BR/><BR/>Now, what about data? Have you ever come across anyone referring to a datum in your professional life.<BR/><BR/>Fittingly, my word ver starts with 'sad'GreatSheElephanthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06589100964804729527noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3607123.post-49992741445741873852008-05-16T10:36:00.000+01:002008-05-16T10:36:00.000+01:00It would amuse the rest of the queue certainly, bu...It would amuse the rest of the queue certainly, but is likely to cause problems when you're watching TellyTubbies ("why does TinkyWinky not have a winky like Daddy then?").Smathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01001981110308457546noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3607123.post-15050877721259294012008-05-16T09:44:00.000+01:002008-05-16T09:44:00.000+01:00Smat: Do you think 'winky' will suffice?Smat: Do you think 'winky' will suffice?patroclushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01933476561340044351noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3607123.post-22114455910961068732008-05-16T09:24:00.000+01:002008-05-16T09:24:00.000+01:00you'd better start practising saying "penis" as th...you'd better start practising saying "penis" as the Blue Kitten will ask questions about bottoms which need answers (probably in the queue in Sainsburys).Smathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01001981110308457546noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3607123.post-6964333772015517592008-05-16T08:15:00.000+01:002008-05-16T08:15:00.000+01:00Cello: I think this post was the very first time. ...Cello: I think this post was the very first time. 'Penis' is one of those words I can't actually say in real life, along with 'bosom'. Call me repressed...<BR/><BR/>Tim: Now we're getting into murky waters. I'd certainly use 'medium' to describe one, er, medium, but I would never say 'agendum' - no one would know what I was on about, for a start. On the other hand, I would totally say 'agendas'. And don't worry, I am mentally flagellating myself for the 'Dimensions' thing and hoping it won't be taken into account should Mr BC ever be considered for the writing of a Doctor Who episode.<BR/><BR/>Dave: Woo! Runes! On my way!<BR/><BR/>Henry Dandelion: Blimey, is that you, Jack Spanners? How are you? And yes, I don't think you'll find any argument against your case for the use of the word 'penises'.patroclushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01933476561340044351noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3607123.post-186443930181270992008-05-16T08:00:00.000+01:002008-05-16T08:00:00.000+01:00Hello Patroclus and Cello, you used to know me as ...Hello Patroclus and Cello, you used to know me as "Jack" but he had to go away...anyway, "penises" was used a lot to describe a number of 70s/80s comedy double acts, such as Cannon & Ball, Little & Large, Hale & Pace etc. For example: "Did you see Hale & Pace last night? What a pair of penises."<BR/><BR/>Distances...oh dear, oh dear.<BR/><BR/>*Word verification: hdgwftm. Isn't that an "lol" type abbreviation for something?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3607123.post-13982791838567919272008-05-16T07:55:00.000+01:002008-05-16T07:55:00.000+01:00I was going to query your need to refer to penises...I was going to query your need to refer to penises in the plural, but cello seems to have got there before me.<BR/><BR/>Runes photos are now available for inspection at my place.Davehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08403853324345062446noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3607123.post-49647814490748962182008-05-15T23:36:00.000+01:002008-05-15T23:36:00.000+01:00OK, where do you stand on 'media' and 'agenda'? Do...OK, where do you stand on 'media' and 'agenda'? Do you treat them as singular or plural?<BR/><BR/>(And shame on you for the 'Dimensions' thing. Your anorak will be tarred and feathered.)Tim Fhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14681067872556519250noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3607123.post-53611278926956203122008-05-15T23:11:00.000+01:002008-05-15T23:11:00.000+01:00Meant to ask how many times in life have you neede...Meant to ask how many times in life have you needed to refer to penises in the plural.<BR/><BR/>Also, if you are into gardening, all the flipping names seem to have pseudo-Latin names which end in 'ii': pieris forrestii, osmanthis burkwoodii etc etc.cellohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17061833787120469657noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3607123.post-13956863849330808022008-05-15T21:56:00.000+01:002008-05-15T21:56:00.000+01:00Agree with you all the way, BiB. It's James's, wit...Agree with you all the way, BiB. It's James's, with a double 's' sound and s-apostrophe-s when written. <BR/><BR/>Although the Economist Style Guide says it's OK to write Jesus' - and the same goes for other classical figures, apparently. (I'd still write 'Patroclus's blog', though.)patroclushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01933476561340044351noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3607123.post-39876525099088029022008-05-15T21:43:00.000+01:002008-05-15T21:43:00.000+01:00I have to confess to having wankily used 'conundra...I have to confess to having wankily used 'conundra', when conundrum is nothing to do with Latin at all.<BR/><BR/>I know it's not a plural thing, but where do you stand on people saying, and the example is appropriate for obvious reasons, James' blog instead of James's? I insist on the latter and don't understand folk's aversion to pronouncing two esses within fifteen minutes of each other.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3607123.post-90468016633010316222008-05-15T19:28:00.000+01:002008-05-15T19:28:00.000+01:00Cello and Billy: Those plurals are of course corre...Cello and Billy: Those plurals are of course correct in the original Latin, but you wouldn't actually *say* them, would you? Would you?<BR/><BR/>My view is that if a word's commonly used in English, bunging '-s' or '-es' on the end is all you need to do to make it plural.<BR/><BR/>This is the kind of conversation that never ends satisfactorily, though. Pretty soon we're going to have to fight it out using our English style guide of choice as a weapon. And pretty soon I'll discover once again that I don't know nearly as much about English or Latin as I think I do.patroclushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01933476561340044351noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3607123.post-72243087411163136302008-05-15T17:56:00.000+01:002008-05-15T17:56:00.000+01:00I thought the plural of penis was "penes".I thought the plural of penis was "penes".Billyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17841187654606981532noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3607123.post-63204020905064953122008-05-15T17:33:00.000+01:002008-05-15T17:33:00.000+01:00Had to give up saying 'fora'after Mary Archer used...Had to give up saying 'fora'after Mary Archer used it, but still feel a little robbed.cellohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17061833787120469657noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3607123.post-48708965514823979722008-05-15T15:57:00.000+01:002008-05-15T15:57:00.000+01:00Yes, there's a certain sense of disdain for 'weird...Yes, there's a certain sense of disdain for 'weird little people who do nerdy things on the internet' running through the whole article. I remain hopeful that one day the Guardian will realise that those weird little people who do nerdy things on the internet constitute practically its entire readership.<BR/><BR/><B>EDIT</B>: Although actually now I come to re-read it, it does start out quite balanced. Maybe that last bit was clouding my judgment of the whole piece.patroclushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01933476561340044351noreply@blogger.com