Comments on: I’m a knight in not-so-shining armour http://www.rarsh.com/2006/12/29/im-a-knight-in-not-so-shining-armour/ Semi-retired. Semi-lucid. Thu, 04 Dec 2008 19:33:53 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.1 By: Wuglums http://www.rarsh.com/2006/12/29/im-a-knight-in-not-so-shining-armour/#comment-952 Wuglums Fri, 29 Dec 2006 23:17:53 +0000 http://www.rarsh.com/2006/12/29/im-a-knight-in-not-so-shining-armour/#comment-952 I infer (note, not imply) that you mean 'no interest' rather than 'impartial' in your use of the word <em>disinterest</em>. It's a great opportunity for pedantry that <a href="http://www.thefreedictionary.com/disinterested" rel="nofollow">disinterested</a> is 'widely used by many educated writers' for this meaning. Can't say that I class Mark Lawrenson in this category, but I make a point of shouting at Match Of The Day as he repeatedly misuses the word. Says a lot more about me, though. ... Twat! <em>Lionel: Reading further from <a href="http://www.thefreedictionary.com/disinterested" rel="nofollow">one of your sources</a> we find:</em> <blockquote>Oddly enough, "not interested" is the oldest sense of the word, going back to the 17th century. This sense became outmoded in the 18th century but underwent a revival in the first quarter of the early 20th. Despite its resuscitation, this usage is widely considered an error.</blockquote> <em>I'm all in favour of the Old Ways, me.</em> <em>Twat! :-)</em> I infer (note, not imply) that you mean ‘no interest’ rather than ‘impartial’ in your use of the word disinterest. It’s a great opportunity for pedantry that disinterested is ‘widely used by many educated writers’ for this meaning. Can’t say that I class Mark Lawrenson in this category, but I make a point of shouting at Match Of The Day as he repeatedly misuses the word. Says a lot more about me, though. … Twat!

Lionel: Reading further from one of your sources we find:

Oddly enough, “not interested” is the oldest sense of the word, going back to the 17th century. This sense became outmoded in the 18th century but underwent a revival in the first quarter of the early 20th. Despite its resuscitation, this usage is widely considered an error.

I’m all in favour of the Old Ways, me.

Twat! :-)

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