Question: Can you explain the term "knee-jerk?" I assume that "jerk" is referring to the person's stupidity, but what does that have to do with knees?Answer: The adjective "knee-jerk" is a popular one these days, especially in connection with politics. It means "readily predictable" or "automatic." A "knee-jerk reaction" is one that was not considered or thought over objectively but that predictably reflects an unvarying and dogmatic point of view. "Knee-jerk" is often used to describe people as well as their responses.
"Knee-jerk" derives from the "sudden movement" sense of "jerk," not the "stupid person" sense. The term comes directly from the familiar test of reflexes that most of us have undergone at the doctor's office. A "knee jerk" is an involuntary forward kick produced by a light blow, usually administered with a doctor's mallet, on the tendon just below the kneecap. The term has been in use for nearly a century. The adjective follows logically from the noun: it describes a reaction regarded as so reflexive, predictable, and routine as to be virtually involuntary.
Question: I hate to sound like a language prude, but I absolutely cringe when I hear someone use the word "orientate." Is "orientate" correct usage?
Answer: "Orientate" is indeed standard, although you are not alone in your dislike of it. "Orientate" is used much more frequently in British English than in American. On this side of the Atlantic, "orient" is the usual choice.
"Orient" and "orientate" are synonyms. "Orient" is the older verb, dating from the early 18th century. "Orientate," first attested in 1849, has been under critical fire since 1945, and in recent years the criticism seems to have gotten louder. But many writers find nothing wrong with "orientate," and you will find both verbs in any reputable dictionary.
Question: We hear about political campaigns and military campaigns. Are these uses of "campaign" related? Which came first?
Answer: The political sense of "campaign" arose from the military sense of the word, and it's not hard to imagine how. Since comparisons can easily be drawn between the two fields of endeavor, they share some common terminology, including "camp," "rally," and, of course, "campaign."
The word derives from the French "campagne," meaning essentially "open country." The French word is in turn derived from the Late Latin "campania," which means "level country." "Campania" was the name of the level country around Naples. "Campania" itself derived from "campus," the Latin word for "field."
"Campaign" entered English in the early 17th century, developing from the methods of military operation then in use. In the winter, troops would typically be housed in towns and garrisons, but in the summer active warfare would resume. "Campaign" eventually came to refer to the operations themselves.
The application of "campaign" to political elections is an Americanism dating back to the early 19th century. John Steele, a Federalist congressman from North Carolina, wrote in 1809 about his bid for office, saying that "the electioneering campaign had become much warmer than I had anticipated."
This column was prepared by the editors of Merriam-Webster's "Collegiate Dictionary," Tenth Edition. Send questions to: Merriam-Webster's Wordwatch, P.O. Box 281, 47 Federal St., Springfield, MA 01102. Merriam-Webster Inc., Dist. by Knight Ridder/Tribune News Service