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Word: midriffed (lookup in dictionary) (lookup stats)
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From now on, proclaimed the Trib, words of more than one syllable ending in "ff" will end simply in "f," e.g., distaf, sherif, tarif, midrif, bailif, mastif, rifraf. (One-syllable words like cuff, scoff and fluff will keep the "ff.") Also doomed to Trib extinction: the letters "ph" within a word, which will be replaced by "f," e.g., anglofobe, sofistry, sofomore, sofisticate, biografy. Magnanimously, the Trib granted "ph" the right to continue to exist at the start of words, e.g., philosofy, photog-rafer. Explained Amputator Astley-Cock: "It is a wise policy to recognize the universally valid principle of festina...

Author: /time Magazine | Title: The Press: F as in Alfabet | 7/18/1949 | See Source »

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