Miscellaneous Entries.
veld /velt/ (= an open, nearly treeless grassland) is the standard spelling. *”Veldt” is a variant (chiefly in South African English).
vendor (= one who sells) is the standard spelling. *”Vender” is a variant. “Vendor” is pronounced /VEN-duhr/, not /VUN-dor/.
venerable = (of people) worthy of being venerated, revered, or highly respected and esteemed, on account of character or position; commanding respect by reason of age combined with high personal character and dignity of appearance; (of things) worthy of veneration or deep respect. The word is a cliché when used inaccurately for “old.” E.g.: “More venerable [read ‘Older’ or, perhaps, ‘Senior’] citizens may recall the days when the electric chair was trucked around the state so that executions could be carried out at parish halls.” James Gill, “Taking Executions on the Road,” Times-Picayune (New Orleans), 20 June 1997, at B7. Language-Change Index — “venerable” as a euphemism for “old”: Stage 4.
veniremember; venireman; *venireperson. The terms all mean “one of a panel of prospective jurors.” The best nonsexist form is “veniremember,” not *”venireperson” — even though it contains the awkward “remember.”
veracity = (1) truthfulness; observance of the truth; or (2) truth; accuracy. Sense 1, denoting a quality that people have, is the traditionally correct usage. Sense 2 began as a slipshod extension in the 18th century, and still might be so considered. But it’s now common in law {the veracity of the affidavit}. “Veracity” is not to be confused with “voracity” (= greediness in eating).
veranda (= a roofed porch or portico) is the standard spelling. *”Verandah” is a variant.
For information about the Language-Change Index click here.
*Invariably inferior form.
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Quotation of the Day: “Despite what many people still believe, no such thing as a ‘primitive’ language has yet been discovered. Every language communicates what its native speakers need to communicate in their kind of society.” Peter Farb, Word Play 11 (1974; repr. 1975).
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