Re: [comp.emacs] "Emacs" defined in Collins English Dictionary

[Nic Ferrier]

Mathias Dahl <address@hidden> writes:

> Miles Bader <address@hidden> writes:
>
>> it might interest people in this group that "emacs" is defined in
>> the new edition of the Collins English Dictionary (7th edition).
>> The dictionary gives the plural as "emacsen", and it is defined as
>> follows: "a powerful computer program used for creating and editing
>> text, functioning primarily through keyboard commands".
>
> [off-topic]
>
> I am a native Swedish-speaker and wonder about these plurals ending in
> -en. I have seen "emacsen" and "boxen", and to me they look "ugly"
> (not offence intended), cannot explain why. Does not sound right at
> all to me. Is there any "old" words that use this too or is this some
> modern "thing"?

Oxen, Children, Bretheren.

See:
  
http://www.snvt.hum.uva.nl/Taalunieversum/Web/SIBData/resources/grammar/010.htm


Nic