Is 'moist' a dirty word?

SUN MEDIA ^ | August 25, 2009 | Thane Burnett

[Wardenclyffe]

As guardians of the English language, usually garrulous tongued UK residents are finding themselves at a loss for words.

Many of their favourite phrases have been banned.

Dozens of taxpayer-funded organizations in the UK are drawing black lines through dozens of common words and phrases they’ve decided are offensive.

You won’t find any "gentleman’s agreements" being made in the halls of the National Gallery in London. Such bonds are now "unwritten agreements."

No place is safe from being suspect – even the "master bedroom" is a problem for uber-sensitive officials at Newcastle University.

But on this side of the Atlantic, one curious word seems to be under attack.

Not that’s it’s offensive. But because it makes people — especially women — feel icky.

Entire websites now revolve around a hatred of "moist."

There are a dozen Facebook groups calling for an end of the word, with ‘I HATE the word MOIST!" boasting 822 decidedly dry members.

University of Pennsylvania linguist Mark Liberman has traced the evolving resentment over the adjective. He’s found humans carry around a propensity for "word aversion." Among those that give us the creeps, are “hardscrabble,” “pugilist,” “squall” and “giggle.”

[PhilDragoo]

Obamao indeed.

[blam]

I like moist.

[ApplegateRanch]

These "word aversions" are most likely due to "students" no longer being taught etymology; roots, prefixes, and suffixes; and not being exposed to anything more linguistically taxing than a Liberal manifesto on MTV 'News'.

I have also noticed a strong tendency for people to disregard any meaning of a word beyond the current first definition in dictionaries; and that many on-line dictionaries do not even list more than one definition for far too many words.

A case in point that had us rolling on the floor in the spring of 1976. Our (ignorant and spiteful) neighbor was discussing politics of the then upcoming presidential primary. We mentioned that we would not be a bit surprised if, instead of one of the front runners getting the nod, a dark horse might emerge and surprise everyone.

Her reply, as she stormed off to her house, was a stunning, "well, MAYBE someday there'll be a N****R in the White House, but certainly not in THIS election!"