mm@vaxine.UUCP (Mark Mudgett) (06/10/85)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ > zben@umd5.UUCP (Ben Cranston) > Note also that to collectively refer to the many VAX computers out there > a lot of people use the coined term "VAXEN", probably a derivative of > "vixen" or something. There is probably some language that has contributed > to English that uses a suffix "en" to denote a ploural, and subconscious > memory supplies the usage. In any case, we say "on vaxen" rather than > "on THE vaxen". The plural suffix "-en" exists in English: ox, oxen; child, children (irregular). "Vaxen" is a plural noun, not a collective noun. "Vixen" is a singular noun. The existence of the "-en" plural form is probably derived from the Germanic ancestors of Modern English. > colonel@gloria.UUCP (Col. G. L. Sicherman) > "Fat chance" is ironic, like "I could care less." Actually, "I could care less" is derived from the saying, "I know little and could care less." This refers to a subject about which I am uninformed, and about which I care even less than I know. The saying has been confused with "I couldn't care less," which means that I couldn't care less than I do about the subject; implying that I care not at all. -- ------------------------------------------------------------------------ _TT /| |~ Mark C. Mudgett >====+++===< | O| |~ ??...!decvax!encore!vaxine!mm {_|||_} \| O| 617-667-7900x2394 ------------------------------------------------------------------------