preece@uicsl.UUCP (02/02/84)
#R:linus:-64100:uicsl:8600038:000:658 uicsl!preece Feb 1 09:50:00 1984 A major weekly news magazine (who shall remain nameless) insists on using the word "employe"! Is this spelling legitimate? It grates on my nerves. I suspect that they are just trying to save on print. ---------- Webster's gives both spellings. The origin is French; in French the extra 'e' would be there for females only -- it's for gender matching. Webster's does not give the alternates you suggest for payee or lessee, but both are also of French descent, so I suppose the same argument would hold. A more blatant case, of course, is fiance(e). In that case the one-e form seems to be the common one. scott preece ihnp4!uiucdcs!uicsl!preece