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To: Reagan Man
Boy, are you clueless.

Although common use has also allowed the definition for "pablum" to also appear as a lesser definition of "pabulum"

This is the 3rd definition given for "pabulum". Pablum was a perfectly good word to use for this, but the dictionary doesn't represent the correct use of words so much as whatever people end up doing with the language.

a soft, bland cereal food for infants
Etymology: contr. < pabulum
noun
any oversimplified or tasteless writing, ideas, etc.
IN fact, yourdictionary.com actually replaces your MW 3rd definition with the word "pablum":
pabulum definition 
pabu·lum (pab′yo̵̅o̅ ləm, -yə-)

noun

1. food or sustenance
2. nourishment for the mind
3. Pablum
I thought it might be nice if someone who bothered to follow this insipid thread might get to learn a little something. I'm not expecting that you will, but someone might.

It saddens me to see people destroy our language, and I wish dictionaries would still enforce historical norms more; but it is hard to fault the dictionary for giving in to the common misuse of language that has acompanied the internet age.

I no longer expect the average internet poster to work at finding the right word; I am occasionally surprised when someone manages to use a particularly clever word properly.

However, I attribute the use of a word to mean it's opposite to the public education foisted upon us by the liberal mindset.

335 posted on 08/10/2009 4:18:30 PM PDT by CharlesWayneCT (,)
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To: CharlesWayneCT
You can't be serious. Another post from you mired in obfuscation and laced with pure hogwash. You remain an individual incapable of intelligent debate or rational thought.

Here's the deal. You attempted to express yourself with a smartass remark that backfired. You then attempted to cover your dumb error. You know very well, I wasn't referencing "intellectual sustenance", but rather, your "insipid, simplistic" and "bland" writing. Period.

You then proceeded to post definitions without a proper link and without proper attribution. Making your reply, void of substance and pure nonsense.

What I posted backed up exactly what the meaning of the word "pabulum" was, per my linked source at Merriam Webster Online. While its been given a shared meaning with "pabulum", MW defines "pablum" in its earliest form, as a trademark for baby food.

Btw, contrary to what you posted...

>>>>>"somewhat like "judgement" is now a word."

... the word "judgement" is the original and proper spelling for British English. It preceded the word "judgment" which is now commonly used in American English. Judgement is not a proper word used in the good old USA today.

336 posted on 08/10/2009 6:20:25 PM PDT by Reagan Man ("In this present crisis, government is not the solution to our problem; government is the problem.")
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