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To: kiriath_jearim

I thought that the plural of "octopus" was "octopii".


2 posted on 03/25/2005 8:33:25 AM PST by kiriath_jearim
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To: kiriath_jearim

Webster's II and III give octopuses, octopi (one i), and octopodes as plural.


3 posted on 03/25/2005 8:37:12 AM PST by dighton
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To: kiriath_jearim
I thought that the plural of "octopus" was "octopii".

You thought wrong.

The "-us" to "-i" rule that a lot of people go by should be "-ius" to "-ii".

As in "radius" to "radii"

4 posted on 03/25/2005 8:38:14 AM PST by Izzy Dunne (Hello, I'm a TAGLINE virus. Please help me spread by copying me into YOUR tag line.)
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To: kiriath_jearim

It is Greek, not Latin.

'octo', meaning 8, plus 'pous' meaning foot.

The plural of 'pous' would be 'podes', because it is third declension. However, in ancient Greek, I believe this word was usually treated as undeclinable, since it doesn't make sense to pluralize the second element.


7 posted on 03/25/2005 8:47:42 AM PST by proxy_user
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To: kiriath_jearim

It's 'Octopi' or 'Octopuses', according to dictionary.com


8 posted on 03/25/2005 8:48:46 AM PST by Blzbba (Don't hate the player - hate the game!)
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To: kiriath_jearim

I thought it was 'Octopussy' Mr. Bond!


28 posted on 03/25/2005 9:06:54 AM PST by Hayzo
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To: kiriath_jearim

Merriam-Webster says octopuses is ok.

http://m-w.com/cgi-bin/dictionary?book=Dictionary&va=octopus

Main Entry: oc·to·pus
Pronunciation: 'äk-t&-p&s, -"pus
Function: noun
Inflected Form(s): plural -pus·es or oc·to·pi /-"pI/
Etymology: New Latin Octopod-, Octopus, from Greek oktOpous
1 : any of a genus (Octopus) of cephalopod mollusks that have eight muscular arms equipped with two rows of suckers; broadly : any octopod excepting the paper nautilus
2 : something that resembles an octopus especially in having many centrally directed branches
[octopus illustration]


32 posted on 03/25/2005 9:23:10 AM PST by PatoLoco
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To: kiriath_jearim; martin_fierro; Boazo; Constitution Day; MeekOneGOP

I thought that the plural of "octopus" was "octopii".



The actual quote was: "Let them eat octoCAKE"


34 posted on 03/25/2005 9:55:33 AM PST by The Spirit Of Allegiance (ATTN. MARXIST RED MSM: I RESENT your "RED STATE" switcheroo using our ELECTORAL MAP as PROPAGANDA!)
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