Don't forget about the ever-more-numerous people who "loose" their luggage.
As I've mentioned before, I thought "metric" descended from the Latin "metricus", which supposedly meant "relating to measurement". That's virtually the same as the modern non-SI-related definition. I always thought the use of the word to refer to a particular system of measurement was the more recent innovation. The "cost function" definition of metric is as familiar to me as the SI definition. I hear other engineers and physicists use it all the time. Almost certainly "metric" as a noun has meant something similar but not identical to "quantity by which things are measured" in mathematics jargon for a good while. According to Wikipedia, the term "metric space" was invented by Hausdorff, who died in 1942. So it seems likely to have been around for at least 60-70 years. I really don't see why this one bothers people. It appears to have a pretty sensible etymology. Is it just because the two meanings might get mixed up? --- "Paul Trusten, R.Ph." <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Give it time, and Webster will add the new use of the word. It bugs me, too, > but > I have given in to the notion that language is what people make of it. I just > hope they don't legitimize the use of the apostrophe in forming a plural > (i.e., > "chicken's" instead of "chickens.") This error is so common that Webster > might > legitimize it the same way they did with the mispronunciations of "February" > (feb-YOO-ary) and "nuclear" (NOOK-yoo-lar). > > (If I live to be a thousand, I will never say "NOOK-yoo-lar," no many how many > scholars say it and point confidently to a dictionary.) > > By now (gag me with a spoon!) there should be a new shade of meaning to > "awesome." Strictly speaking, "cool" means "lacking warmth," but it surely > means, "attractive" or "especially interesting." > > > > Quoting Norman & Nancy Werling <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>: > > > My most recent dictionary is the Webster's New World Dictionary, Second > > College Edition. It does not mention a new use of these two words which are > > now used so often in contexts other than referring to the International > > System of Measures (SI). > > > > When, how, and why did a new use of the subject words become applicable > > to---how best to say it---references to general ways to approach, study, > > analyze, or decide things? > > > > Norman Werling > > > -- > > DIGNITY, SELF-RESPECT, AND INTEGRITY > IN PHARMACY > > Paul Trusten, R.Ph. > Acting Secretary > Phone +1(432)528-7724 > The Pharmacy Alliance > 3609 Caldera Boulevard, Apartment 122 > Midland TX 79707-2872 USA > mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > http://oleapothecary.blog.com > > ____________________________________________________________________________________ Be a better friend, newshound, and know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile. Try it now. http://mobile.yahoo.com/;_ylt=Ahu06i62sR8HDtDypao8Wcj9tAcJ
