Discussion Forum—A Way with Words, a fun radio show and podcast about language

Peano said
http://abovethelaw.com/2011/12/grammer-pole-of-the-weak-pleaded-v-pled/#more-120188

That page says You don’t see very many people walking around saying, “I saided…,” do you?  

Possibly because the present tense is say, not said.  I do, distressingly, see an increasing usage of payed instead of paid.

Robert said
To me it seems pled,sped are a lot more common than the other forms.  

"entered a plea of"- what about it?

My question wasn't which is better, but who is saying which. As I used to say to subordinates, with tongue in cheek, the dictionary finds both the correct way. and the way others say it, are acceptable.  There is nothing wrong with "entered a plea of" except that it's a bit wordy, and using it every time in a newspaper instead of pled is odd.

I am quite surprised to see 'feeded,'  like in this book. (My iPad speller redlines it)

You'll note this is mostly found in engineering context, as opposed to dining.  An animal eats; a chemical or electrical system doesn't.  And while patrons at a restaurant feed upon a buffet, the chemical or power system does reach out and take, but merely accepts what is foist upon it.

There is a sexual perversion known as feederism. The feeder provides foods to the feedee, and encourages her to gorge herself, and revels on the many pounds she puts on.  She plays along because of the praise and persuasion he offers, and she convinces herself that he's the only one who could love her. It ends when she dies of a heart attack or he abandons her upon reaching a certain size - typically over 450 pounds - and she either cannot get through doors or lacks the muscles to be mobile.  I make no moral judgment about the silly games of BDSM, but find feeders to be as ugly as rapists and pedophiles.
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