Flaccid

[nq:1]A very irritating know-all journalist on our local paper has used this word to show off with in his column ... that it was pronounced "flassid". OED indicates that it should be "flax-id" but NSOED and M-W give both. Any thoughts?[/nq]
When you are next in the US, and comment on the flaccid appearance of some out-of-shape American, do say "flassid" if you wish to be understood. If you wis

[nq:1]A very irritating know-all journalist on our local paper has used this word to show off with in his column ... that it was pronounced "flassid". OED indicates that it should be "flax-id" but NSOED and M-W give both. Any thoughts?[/nq]
I have heard both pronunciations, but I would choose "flassid" myself. The first person I heard use the other pronunciation was a very genteel lady profess

[nq:1]A very irritating know-all journalist on our local paper has used this word to show off with in his column ... that it was pronounced "flassid". OED indicates that it should be "flax-id" but NSOED and M-W give both. Any thoughts?[/nq]
I've always used flax-id, in common with other words spelt cci; accident, occident etc.
m.

[nq:1]A very irritating know-all journalist on our local paper has used this word to show off with in his column ... that it was pronounced "flassid". OED indicates that it should be "flax-id" but NSOED and M-W give both. Any thoughts?[/nq]
I have occasionally heard /'fl&ksId/, but the pronunciation I hear more often and that I use is /'fl&sId/.
Upon checking K&K for what they thought the

[nq:1]A very irritating know-all journalist on our local paper has used this word to show off with in his column ... that it was pronounced "flassid". OED indicates that it should be "flax-id" but NSOED and M-W give both. Any thoughts?[/nq]
I've always thought it was supposed to be pronounced flack-sid, but I and everyone I've ever heard use the word has said flassid.

Dena Jo

On 11 Jan 2004 20:08:46 GMT, Dena Jo
[nq:2]A very irritating know-all journalist on our local paper has ... be "flax-id" but NSOED and M-W give both. Any thoughts?[/nq]
[nq:1]I've always thought it was supposed to be pronounced flack-sid, but I and everyone I've ever heard use the word has said flassid.[/nq]
In my 61 years I have never heard "flack-sid" until now.

Brian

[nq:1]A very irritating know-all journalist on our local paper has used this word to show off with in his column ... that it was pronounced "flassid". OED indicates that it should be "flax-id" but NSOED and M-W give both. Any thoughts?[/nq]
To be precise, Merriam-Webster's Collegiate shows /'fl&ks@d/, "FLACK-sud," as a secondary variant, since it introduces it with the word "also." This means

[nq:1]I've always used flax-id, in common with other words spelt cci; accident, occident etc.[/nq]
I use flaxid, but I rather think that in the days when I'd never had occasion actually to say it aloud I mentally pronounced it flackid if I came across it in writing.
Not that I use (or hear) it every day, even now ...

Katy Jennison
spamtrap: remove number to reply

[nq:1]A very irritating know-all journalist on our local paper has used this word to show off with in his column ... that it was pronounced "flassid". OED indicates that it should be "flax-id" but NSOED and M-W give both. Any thoughts?[/nq]
I'm sure it should be "flaxid" but I hear and say "flassid".

Adrian

[nq:1]A very irritating know-all journalist on our local paper has used this word to show off with in his column ... that it was pronounced "flassid". OED indicates that it should be "flax-id" but NSOED and M-W give both. Any thoughts?[/nq]
I don't think there's anything hard or fast about it.

Matti