Date: Mon, 13 Nov 1995 17:15:31 -0500

From: Jesse T Sheidlower jester[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]PANIX.COM

Subject: Re: "Esthetician"



Just now I picked up the business card the new owner handed me. It

introduces her as "Jennifer Thacker, Esthetician."



I REALLY do not know whether I can go back!



I'd say this is a fairly common word right now. While it might

be annoying in its pretentiousness, it's not even very new--we

have citations back to 1950 (in the aes- spelling), in what is

pretty much the same sense.



And it's not even especially misleading--save the rage for those

garbagemen calling themselves "sanitation engineers."



Best,



Jesse "'Exquisitely groomed'--New York Magazine" Sheidlower

Random House Reference

jester[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]panix.com