Your vocabulary lesson for the day

How do you pronounce undoubtedly? That's what I thought. Many years ago I worked with a girl (whose claim to fame is that she went to high school with Kenny Chesney) who pronounced it "un-dow-buhd-ly." Most of us realize the "b" is silent. She lived by the notion that it is, indeed, the "t" that is silent.

I never thought I would hear anybody pronounce it like that ever again.

Until tonight. Those Chinese gymnasts un-dow-buhd-ly are pretty awesome. Yeah. It was the commentator. Not sure which one, but I know what I heard.

You might be saying, "Okay, what about that word indubitably?" I know what you're thinking. We could cut down on the number of words in the dictionary by taking out indubitably and satisfy those who like that word by allowing pronunciation of the "b" in undoubtedly. Sorry, Charlie. The nuances in meaning are slightly different. Undoubtedly means not doubted. Indubitably means too evident to be doubted.

It's a good thing Curtis doesn't read my blog. We'd all be in for a lengthy etymology lesson including insights on the Latin and Greek roots of the words and what they should mean, what they used to mean and exactly how those words have evolved over time. (Curtis is a Classics major with a Latin concentration.) Not that I don't appreciate those lessons. I proudly smile and listen when he launches into something like this that gives him such joy. I digress...again...this is not why I called.

In any event...that...my friends...was your vocabulary lesson for the day.