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#98963 03/18/03 03:27 AM
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Greetings,

I was going through the archives of "Q&A about Words" section and happen to come across the discussion of whether the word "prepone" be used. The link is given below.

http://wordsmith.org/board/showflat.pl?Cat=&Board=words&Number=87006&page=20&view=collapsed&sb=5

I normally used prepone and was surprised to see that Oxford English Dictionary (OED) do not acknowledge the usage. So how about using the word 'Advance' ?
Eg: My Exams got advanced by a week.

More later,
Kiran


#98964 03/18/03 05:17 AM
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Hello Kiran!

I wasn't able to access the link that you posted, but, am pretty certain that prepone is in the OED. I think it found its way into the dictionary by virtue of being commonly used informally as a counter to postpone. I am not very certain of this though, and would be glad to be corrected.


#98965 03/18/03 06:13 AM
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Hi Kiran,

Prepone is not in Webster's Unabridged Dictionary of the English Language.

I have never heard prepone -- and would not recommend the use of "advanced" there either. It sounds awkward and contrived.

Most native English speakers in America would say:
My exams were moved up a week.


#98966 03/18/03 12:38 PM
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Hi, Kiran! Your knowledge of English is very good. "Happen to come across" is quite idiomatic.


#98967 03/18/03 12:41 PM
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Most native English speakers in America would say:
My exams were moved up a week.


Well we might, but I always get "moved up" and "moved back" confused so I avoid both.


#98968 03/18/03 01:13 PM
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>>..surprised to see that Oxford English Dictionary (OED) do not acknowledge the usage.

>..am pretty certain that prepone is in the OED.

this piqued my curiosity of course, so I peeked. prepone is not in OED2, but it's going to be in the new B&M edition; here's the Sept. 2001 draft entry:

1. trans.To place in front of; to set before. Obs. rare.

1549 R. CROWLEY in Psalter of David XVI. sig.C.iv.v, I do prepone and set the Lord alwaye before myne eyes: He is styll at my right hande, leaste I fall in anye wyse. 1625 A. GARDYNE Characters & Ess. Ep. Ded. 5, I stood, and studi'd, whose pręponed Name Should dye in Graine, and Luster lend to Them.



2. trans. To bring forward to an earlier time or date. Opposed to postpone.
In later use, most frequent in Indian English.

1941 M. KELLEY This Great Argument iv. 105 He [sc. Milton] preponed to a period before the foundation of the world certain dogmatic matters connected with the accession of Christ to the mediatorial office of king. 1978 Church Times 13 Oct. 8/5 Longman would like to announce that the publication date for Linelights has been preponed (brought forward) from 16th October to 25th September. 1987 Summary of World Broadcasts: Far East (B.B.C.) 14 Oct. 8698/B2 The winter session of Indian parliament, which is normally convened in the third week of November, has been preponed to early next month. 1997 Independent 26 July I. 15/3 On my recent visit to Delhi, I was handed a note by my client's driver who met me... The note stated that my meeting with my client had been preponed. 2001 Times of India (Nexis) 22 Feb., [The] transport minister..decided to ask schools to prepone their examinations and start summer vacations in April in view of a transport crisis.
[OED online]
(EA)



#98969 03/18/03 01:47 PM
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In a world of procrastinators, there's seldom a need for "prepone".


#98970 03/18/03 01:47 PM
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tsuwm, I can always count on you to peak. I see that OED uses the term Indian as it really should be used. (hi, sjm) And, Kiran, if I heard someone say "My tests were advanced", I wouldn't think to ask how far; I would think that those tests were more difficult than regular tests--that they would be for the students who are more advanced than average. I'm not saying my way is better, please understand; just providing information.


#98971 03/18/03 02:33 PM
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Folks, brace yourself for what might seem to be the most idiotic question you have heard in a long time. (taking deep breath e)Are there country specific editions of the OED that are published for selected populations of English speakers?

I have a dictionary on my desk and I am staring at it in utter bewilderment as I write. This is the ninth edition of the OED, and has the word prepone listed as an entry. It doesn't say anything about the origin.
tsuwm's entry above, about Indian English, sent me burrowing in the much ignored opening pages and sure enough, it says there, in an italicised blurb, that the edition is meant for sale only in the subcontinent. Books are relatively less expensive in India and friends travelling east always return with supplies for my shelves. This one is almost certainly, one such transatlantic traveller. Which brings me back to my question. And are there French, German, or Chinese editions too, apart from this Indian one?


#98972 03/18/03 03:13 PM
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you prolly don't have the OED (as we think of it) on your desk. the OED is 20 humongous volumes (or so). there are all kinds of other editions which have versions of the OED imprimatur, such as the Shorter Oxford, and the Teeny-Tiny Print Oxford, etc. this is the first I've heard of "foreign" editions--although, come to think on it, Jesse Sheidlower (formerly of Random House) is the new N American editor.


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