Factoid -- Plural of "Lotus"
Michael R. Jones
Someone recently asked whether the plural of "lotus" is "loti" or
"lotuses." To answer this, one must consider the origin of the word.
"Lotus," like "focus," "radius," "octopus," and "rhombus" is taken from
the Greek and/or Latin. Because of this, the correct plural is "loti."
Many words, however, have an Anglicized plural as well. Hence, "lotuses"
is also correct, but not preferred.
Some other Anglicized plurals include "appendix" (appendices,
appendixes), "rhombus" (rhombi, rhombuses), "radius" (radiuses, radii),
and "criterion" (criteria, criterions).
Be sure with some words not to Anglicize the plural, such as "datum" (pl.
"data"), "analysis" (analyses), "basis" (bases), "kibbutz" (kibbutzim),
and "mongoose" (mongooses).
This may sound odd, but it is proper English. Of course, don't bet the
family farm on it: some books might say otherwise.
Yazdaan
Dow Manlove
Hey there!
I was just thinking that the safest route might be to say (in the
singular): there is a lotus in the pond, and (in the plural): there are
some lotus in the pond (LOL).
The new book on lilies and lotus by Mr. Slocum is entilted, "Lilies and
Lotuses". This is a great book, by the way and I highly recommend it.
Dow
Daydreamer Perennial Gardens
800/741-3867 -- or -- 10256...@compuserve.com -- or -- DOWa...@aol.com
http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/Cub_Crafts/daydream.htm
Michael R. Jones (mrj...@niia.net) wrote:
: Someone recently asked whether the plural of "lotus" is "loti" or
Quartal
I think I'll have to limit my supply to one lotus so that the problem
never arises in any of my conversations. ;)
Michael R. Jones
qua...@aol.com (Quartal) wrote:
>I think I'll have to limit my supply to one lotus so that the problem
>never arises in any of my conversations. ;)
Oddly enough, the plural never came up in my search for it. My
Enclycopaedia Britannica only said "the lotus" and phrases of the like.
I am only assuming the plural is "lotuses" and "loti" based on other
similar plurals from the Latin and Greek. I don't think the people at
Britannica wanted to go out on a limb and state a plural. Some people
(not too many, fortunately) will get mad at the use of the origional
plural, "loti," and others insist the only plural is the Anglicized
"lotuses." Of course, these same people also continue to argue regarding
how acceptable it is to ever split an infinitive. (hehe) Perhaps they
need a hobby like pond-keeping to consume all their free time. ;-)
Yazdaan Jones
Gadfly
In article <4ob6dc$j...@gold.niia.net>,
Michael R. Jones <mrj...@niia.net> wrote:
>qua...@aol.com (Quartal) wrote:
>>I think I'll have to limit my supply to one lotus so that the problem
>>never arises in any of my conversations. ;)
>Oddly enough, the plural never came up in my search for it. My
>Enclycopaedia Britannica only said "the lotus" and phrases of the like.
>I am only assuming the plural is "lotuses" and "loti" based on other
>similar plurals from the Latin and Greek...
The original post went entirely overboard. Most dictionaries will show
the plural as "lotuses". "Loti" may be correct Latin, or "lotes",
depending on the original declension. The word was borrowed from the
Greek "lotos", whose plural is most probably--cf. "kudos" and "cosmos",
words whose singular and plural are identical--also "lotos".
*** ***
Ken Perlow ***** ***** Bell Labs / Lucent Technologies
****** ****** 28 May 96 [9 Prairial An CCIV]
***** ***** gad...@bell-labs.com
** ** ** **
...L'AUDACE! *** *** TOUJOURS DE L'AUDACE! ENCORE DE L'AUDACE!
Dan Wenz
In article <4oev4f$3...@nntpa.cb.att.com>,
Gadfly <gad...@ctcgp1.ih.att.com> wrote:
>In article <4ob6dc$j...@gold.niia.net>,
>Michael R. Jones <mrj...@niia.net> wrote:
>>qua...@aol.com (Quartal) wrote:
I don't understand the problem; the plural of lotus is "lots of lotus" ;->
David R Jones
Well, try this: 'lotus' as a generic plural (Lotus are often depicted in
ancient Egyptian paintings.); 'lotuses' when referrring to a number of
individuals (The Chawan Basu lotuses are crowding out the Momo Botans and
the chromatella lilies.)
Lotus is not italicized, so it's now an English word. We have a lot of
way to coin plurals, but surely lotuses gets one's meaning across
effectively and without too much double-taking.
Whattya think?
Laura J