The missing 'u' in US'n English has long been noted on this board, but Dr Bill's 'medieval' post reminded me of something else that I've been noticing for a while.....

When did all the 'a's' start going missing?
medieval vs mediaeval
pediatrics vs paediatrics
and so on....

I dread to think what could be done to gynaecology....

Is this a recent thing, or is it just that I've only recently noticed it?