Preheat/Reconfirm/Overpay
I
received three “Is that really a word?” inquiries last week. There’s a strong subjective element involved.
The questioner will often say, “that just doesn’t sound right.”
Kelley
objected to the phrase preheat the oven,
claiming that you are simply heating the oven. Preheating would involve a cold
oven. I’m afraid that it doesn’t quite work that way. The pre- in preheat doesn’t mean “the state before heat was
introduced.” It means “to heat the oven before the food is introduced.” The
first example in the Oxford English
Dictionary tracks back to 1862.
Charles didn’t like the word reconfirm. Even if there’s repeated action, he maintained, each instance is a confirmation. The Oxford English Dictionary begs to differ, defining reconfirm as “to confirm, ratify, or establish anew.” It cites 1587 as the first example.
Michael
has a problem with the word overpay, as in are
you afraid to overpay? It means
to compensate someone beyond what is actually owed. I’m not sure what his
objection is—perhaps he would prefer pay
too much—but the OED gives the first instance as 1590, so it’s been around
for a while.
Available from McFarland & Co.: Word Parts Dictionary, 2nd edition
Nook edition
Nook edition
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