Derivation and Spelling of Pre-empt

Question

Can anyone help with the above please?Different dictionaries give different spellings.Cannot find site for derivation of words - all links gratefully received.TIAPhil

Usenet · Accepted Answer

[nq:1]Can anyone help with the above please?[/nq]
(Spelling of "pre-empt")
[nq:1]Different dictionaries give different spellings.[/nq]
I can think of three possibilities:
1. With hyphen: "pre-empt"
2. Without hyphen: "preempt"
3. Without hyphen but with dieresis: "preempt" with a90-degree-rotated colon (looks like an umlaut) over the second "e" (I don't know how to generate one of those on Usenet)

The third is obsolescent if only because so many ignorami are like I (insert smiley here if you need one) and don't know how to create the necessary "e" with umlaut. The first is clearest. But the second is quite common. And there's no official arbiter to tell you which of the three is "correct." Indeed, all are "correct." Pick the one you like, or use the one your boss or teacher is forcing you to use, and don't let it bother you.

Bob Lieblich
Umlaut-less

Usenet · Answer

[nq:1]Can anyone help with the above please? Different dictionaries give different spellings. Cannot find site for derivation of words - all links gratefully received.[/nq]
Once I found preempt, I had to enter the "preemption" in the second search. One entry found for preemption.
M-W Online (http://www.m-w.com/ ) (You can go to the site and find an icon for your taskbar. Very helpful, (though not the most up-to-date.)

Main Entry: pre·emp·tion
Pronunciation: -'em(p)-sh&n
Function: noun
Etymology: Medieval Latin praeemption-, praeemptio previous purchase, from praeemere to buy before, from Latin prae- pre- + emere to buy ++++++++++++
You can see that to "buy before" (others) prevents their buying a thing. ( I was surprised that M-W didn't recognize pre-empt, as that would be my preference in spelling.)
You have probably seen the Latin phrase "caveat emptor" (Let the buyer beware). Emporium (store in usual AmE)...another word related to the "emere" root.
+++++++++++++
Never looked this up before, but it has the same "emere" root: Peremptory.
Pronunciation: p&-'rem(p)-t(&-)rE
Function: adjective
Etymology: Late Latin & Latin; Late Latin peremptorius, from Latin, destructive, from perimere to take entirely, destroy, from per- thoroughly + emere to take

Usenet · Answer

[nq:1]3. Without hyphen but with dieresis: "preempt" with a 90-degree-rotated colon (looks like an umlaut) over the second "e" (I ... like, or use the one your boss or teacher is forcing you to use, and don't let it bother you.[/nq]
I venture to suggest that how to create it depends on your operating system and your news client more than being on Usenet. If you wish to know more, inform me of the above by email and I'll see if I can help.

Of greater significance to me is the concept in itself. Uneducated and lacking your erudition, I responded to my friend's query about said pseudo-umlaut just last evening by describing it as an apparent fad of the last couple of decades. I encounter it from time to time on business cards of those claiming to be coordinates or to work in cooperative ventures. Perhaps you can share with me the produce of your little grey cells on this.
My initial reaction to said symbol is always one of irritation. I find it as annoying as an unexpected hyphen(1) in such words. I am quite capable of responding to a prefix(2) without artificial stimulation thereto!

Redwine
Hamburg
(1) The "ph" may be replaced with the thirteenth letter if so desired. (2) This word may be replaced with one of several if desire is felt.

Usenet · Answer

[nq:1]... query about said pseudo-umlaut just last evening by describing it as an apparent fad of the last couple of decades. I encounter it from time to time on business cards of those claiming to be coordinates or to work in cooperative ventures.[/nq]
diaeresis n. Also (US) dieresis. Pl. -eses.
L16. (L f. Gk diairesis n. of action f. diairein take apart, divide, f. as DIA-1 + hairein take.)
(snip)
2 The sign ¨ placed over a vowel to indicate that it is pronounced separately, as in Brontë, naïve. E17.
.. so it's been around for at least the best part of four hundred years under that name, and very possibly longer.
I quite like Preëmpt, myself.
Cheers,
Daniel.

Usenet · Answer

[nq:1]Of greater significance to me is the concept in itself. Uneducated and lacking your erudition, I responded to my friend's ... to work in cooperative ventures. Perhaps you can share with me the produce of your little grey cells on this.[/nq]
I would place it as being before a few decades ago. Maybe it's coming back into fashion.
Anyway, I first encountered it in a very old and battered copy of "Language" by Edward Sapir in which in one section he talks about "coördinate sentences" rather a lot. There's a price written on the inside cover that is in shillings, so that's testament to its date of printing being pre-1971.

johnF
"It's not the first time, nor will it be the last, that I've missed the point of a post!"
Robin Bignall, AUE, 24 January 2004

Usenet · Answer

[nq:2]... query about said pseudo-umlaut just last evening by describing ... claiming to be coordinates or to work in cooperative ventures.[/nq]
[nq:1]: diaeresis n. Also (US) dieresis. Pl. -eses. : : L16. (L f. Gk diairesis n. of action f. diairein ... least the best part of four hundred years under that name, and very possibly longer. I quite like Preëmpt, myself.[/nq]
Indeed, sir, you almost persuade me to use it.
Whilst we are on the subject of Brontean diuretics, are there any Shakespeare buffs reading this who can enlighten me as to the bard's preferred aphrodisiacs.

Redwine
Hamburg
(suffering from pulmonary malapropism)

Usenet · Answer

Thanks to all for response.
I had guessed at a link to the Latin, but couldn't find a source.
Phil

Derivation and Spelling of Pre-empt

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