[X4U] Jonesing

[Stroller]

On 16 Feb 2008, at 14:38, Linda wrote:
>> I was unaware of the use of the word "esteemed" as a synonym for
>> "amateur".
>
> It isn't, of course.

As indicated by my smiley, which you edited out of your reply.

I was being entirely off-the-cuff with my remark, but following up  
your reply I find Mr Bryson to get a heck of a kicking from other  
etymologists, considering he's so "esteemed".

>> I was looking to disprove your keeping-up-with-the-Jones etymology.
>
> Well, thanks! It's nice to know that you weren't interested in all the
> possible answers so much as you simply wanted to prove an  
> individual wrong.

Don't take stuff that's said on the internets personally.

The heroin explanation sounded right to me, so I went looking for  
confirmation of that. That's all I meant by my statement. I didn't  
think "let's all gang up on Linda" and start plotting how to be a big  
old meanie to you. I simply wanted to be completely open about my  
bias when I presented the evidence that I did (for what internet  
searches are worth in that regard).

If you wish to debate the point then do, indeed, debate the POINT,  
not what a mean old curmudgeon I am, and find sources as respectable  
as Merriam-Webster and predate its 1965 edition.

Stroller.