Date: Fri, 29 Mar 1996 09:15:15 EST

From: Patricia Kuhlman GAKBC[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]CUNYVM.BITNET

Subject: Discussant



In response to Seth Sklarey's query re discussant meaning panelist

in a discussion, the OED gives a 1927 citation for this word. It is of

American origin. Wouldn't you know it? Discussant sets my "dentes" on

edge. Presumably most British people likely to be writing about members

of a discussion have studied at least a bit of Latin and know that you cant'

can't make a present participle from a past participle (discuss discutio,

discutere, discussus) and switch conjugations to boot. But perhaps I

should lighten up and appreciate that in English you CAN mix and match.

A properly formed Latinate participle would yield discutient instead of

discussant and many people wouldn't make the connection.



Patricia vobis plurimam salutem dicit.