Question:. What can you tell me about the word "popinjay"? I had an old aunt who was fond of using this term to describe people she was not especially fond of, especially those who were known to put on airs.
- T. N., Savannah, Ga.
Answer: "Popinjay" is a distant descendant of an old Arabic word for parrot. At first the Middle English word "papejay," borrowed from the Middle French "papegai," also simply meant "parrot." Before long, however, the term had acquired a figurative sense and was used to describe people who were thought to resemble parrots. In the Middle Ages, when parrots were considered a beautiful rarity, the comparison was complimentary, but as the bird became more common the nature of the comparison changed. Today "popinjay" is a somewhat old-fashioned word for "a strutting, supercilious person." The word has most often been used to describe foppish men given to meaningless talk.
Question: I work in a medical field and have been criticized for my use of "vs." ("versus") in phrases like "exercise vs. free weight loads." I think this is an appropriate use of the word, in its meaning of "against." My supervisor holds that its only acceptable use is in the meaning "in contrast to" ("heat vs. cold treatments"). Aren't both uses acceptable, without being exclusive?
- G. V., Superior, Wis.
Answer: The original meaning of "versus" in English is actually "against." The earliest citations, dating from the 15th century, are for situations involving people: "The King, of Scarborough, versus the mob that broke into his house." Use of "versus" to mean "against" in a context of this kind, or in a modern legal ("Smith versus Jones") or sports ("the Packers versus the Raiders") context, would probably not warrant a second glance from your supervisor. Your own use puts "versus" in a somewhat unusual context, however, since you're describing actual physical pushing against an opposing mass (which is a little like saying "He leaned versus the door"). That's why it sounds wrong to your supervisor, although the basic meaning of "versus" remains "against" or "in opposition to."
We would not say that your use of "versus" is inconsistent with its basic sense, but it is, according to our evidence, an atypical use.
Question: Help. Some weeks ago I heard a haughty, smooth, oily voice and I mentioned to a friend that the voice sounded "schmarmy." (That may not be the correct spelling.) My ego insists that there is such a word and that it exactly describes the voice I heard, but I have been unable to find it in any dictionary. The adjectives above do not properly describe the voice; in my mind it was "schmarmy," period.
- S. L., Swansboro, N.C.
Answer: You are close. The word you are thinking of is actually "smarmy" - a wonderfully descriptive word that can mean "sleek," "marked by smug, insincere earnestness or self-serving flattery," or "of low, sleazy taste or quality." "Smarmy" has many synonyms ("polished," "slick," "unctuous," "ingratiating" - to name a few in addition to those you mention), but you are perhaps right that none capture the full effect of "smarmy" itself.