...or microphotograph? Is one a photo from a microscope image and the other a very small photograph? What does the team think?

jj

yes.

I think you've got it right. that's how I would interpret it, anyway...

My brainy former brother-in-law, who knows about things scientific, says that a photomicrograph is always taken through (or with the aid of) a microscope.

former brother-in-law - come to think of it, despite its length, this expression is under-determined, and in view of nowaday's widespread "patchwork families", language has some catching-up to do.

I would assume that a microphotograph would be a very small photo and a photomicrograph would be taken through a microscope. But then again i'm no scientist (and that's probably a good thing)

this expression is under-determined

Meaning that who was once a brother-in-law could now be a sister-in-law?

And, Shelb, if a microphotograph is a very small photo and a photomicrograph is taken through a microscope, then a microphotophotomicrograph would be a very small photograph taken through a microscope! :) :)

> and in view of nowaday's widespread "patchwork families", language has some catching-up to do

Recently, I was disappointed to learn that Hindi is going the other way. Despite having different words for aunt and uncle, to distinguish between biological and marriage-related versions, all the Hindi speakers I associate with simply use "aunt" and "uncle".

H marries W1.
W1 had a brother B1.
B1 becomes H's brother in law.
W1 dies.
H marries W2.
W2 has a brother B2 who is now entitled to be called brother in law.
In some sense B1, is still a brother in law but not in the same sense that B2 is. Hence, "former brother in law".

Any better way to say it?

Any better way to say it? No, this is just what I was "deploring"... but as long as no divorces are involved, things are relatively simple.

I don't know if it is the same for everybody but when referring to the relatives of my ex husband (a folly of youth) I usually say "the sister of my ex" or "my ex's mom." This leaves no room for ambiguity.

Team Think.

That's a good one. JohnJohn.

Wish'd I thought of it.

"...but as long as no divorces are involved, things are relatively simple."

I'd think *things get 'relatively' simpler once the divorce is finalized.