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Yes, ChrisE, I knew that - about you having been a teacher - but because I always encouraged my children to find new words, learn new words, I wouldn't tell them that although the word was probably in the four dictionaries in our bookcase, it wasn't 'real', wasn't to be used in that sense. I might say, 'Years ago, in the 20th century, people [especially teachers and pedants] pointed out that it was wrong to use that word. 'Aggravate' then meant...'

Hi Malone,

I'm puzzled by the meaning of L as in L19 (and yes, I have Googled it but it just caused more confusion.

Also, I was flabbergasted to see you sign off with LOL. Was it, as I suspect, used in jest or an example of you accepting changing language?

Bren, E, M and L refer to early, mid and late parts of the century. So L19 is late 19th century.

Hello, Brendan. Tonight was the first time I'd noticed the number stuff, (L19 and so on) in my SOED - I had to plough through some pages at the front to see what it meant! I decided I'd put 'forsooth' and LOL in the same comment, just because I could. In real life, I use neither (and in real life I always use 'aggravate' only in the earlier sense).

Thanks Jono, but seriously try Googling it as if you didn't already know the meaning and see what nonsense it shows!

Thanks Malone, my post had originally included your use of forsooth and whether it was linked to LOL but I just couldn't get the wording right so rewrote it (numerous times), although I know you'd never guess that from the finished product LOL 😉

Hello again, Brendan. Glad you (originally) knew about the LOL link. I thought the SOED numbers thing was quite interesting, though I felt a little ashamed - I don't think I've ever spent any time wondering when a word first came into use.

Paulhabershon

Grauniad today 22d

A coincidence?

swarbrules@27

I don't see the Guardian. Please enlighten me. Sounds interesting.

PaulH

Couples from OnlyFans regularly plugging radio chat (6)

chrise@29 and swarbrules

At least the answer isn't CONFLAB!