Re: CHAT behove etc (was: Natlag: Middle English impersonal verbs)

On 3/10/06, R A Brown <ray@...> wrote:
> > I was of the impression "behoove" is American and "behove" is British
> > (and presumably Australian)---
>
> "behove" is British. It is, however, historically pronounced /bI'hu:v/,
> i.e. rhyming with "move". But because the world is rarely used, on the
> few occasions when it is, one more often than not hears a spelling
> pronunciation that makes it rhyme with 'rove' & 'trove'.
>
> It seems our Merkan cousins have retained the historic pronunciation,
> but amended the spelling accordingly, tho not carrying the reform
> through to 'move' or 'prove'      :)
>
> And on both sides of the Pond we continue to write 'dove', 'love' &
> 'shove', despite the absurdity of the spelling.
At least that reminds us, while reading e.g. Donne, that "prove" and
"love" did rhyme at one time.  :)

At this point I feel I must quote from my mom's college paper on
Donne, written entirely in verse (her idea, not part of the
assignment):

John Donne, you Elizabethan scamp
I read "The Bait"; my eyes grew damp
"Come live with me and be my love
 And we will some new pleasures prove"
Sure beats saying "Let's shack up!"
Or, even worse, "C'mon, let's groove!"

She got an A. :)



> --
> Ray
> ==================================
> ray@carolandray.plus.com
> http://www.carolandray.plus.com
> ==================================
> MAKE POVERTY HISTORY
>

--
Mark J. Reed <markjreed@...>

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