Date: Mon, 14 Jul 1997 11:43:50 -0500

From: Mark Mandel Mark[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]DRAGONSYS.COM

Subject: Re: Ground for Floor



"Margaret G. Lee -English" mlee[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]CS.HAMPTONU.EDU asks





Has anyone noticed within the last several years that many people refer to the "ground" when they

really mean the

"floor"? For example, "She dropped the bowl on the ground" (on the kitchen floor). When did

*ground* stopped

being "terra firma" and started being the inside bottom surface of a room ?





A long time ago, at least in some localities. I remember being irritated with my grandmother

when she said it, and she

died maybe fifteen years ago. But I'm thinking about exchanges during my childhood or teen

years, during the '50s

and '60s, and Nana was born about 1892. -- But maybe it's spreading now.



-- Mark



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