Jonathan Dent
@jwdent.bsky.social
Lancastrian in Reading and Oxford, lexicographer.
I did not read the last word of this line as ‘example’
November 18, 2025 at 2:13 PM
I did not read the last word of this line as ‘example’
I’ve just had to ask someone younger than me (born c.1990) if they were familiar with the term ‘demob happy’ after I’d used it (they weren’t), and now I’m feeling very old and realizing how much the war was still a very present cultural influence even into the 1980s and 90s
May 27, 2025 at 8:49 AM
I’ve just had to ask someone younger than me (born c.1990) if they were familiar with the term ‘demob happy’ after I’d used it (they weren’t), and now I’m feeling very old and realizing how much the war was still a very present cultural influence even into the 1980s and 90s
Not to detract from the photo as a whole, but look at that! Beautifully captured, Chris
April 30, 2025 at 8:04 AM
Not to detract from the photo as a whole, but look at that! Beautifully captured, Chris
Okay Goring Gap, thanks for that
April 27, 2025 at 3:23 PM
Okay Goring Gap, thanks for that
Ah, only applies after 10am seemingly
April 4, 2025 at 8:28 AM
Ah, only applies after 10am seemingly
Coronation Street, 22 May, 1961. Whit week picnic in Blackpool.
Annie: I hope this isn't serious.
Billy: What?
Annie: You and Doreen.
Billy: Is it heck, I'm only having a fling.
Jack: Well I think she's quite a nice girl
Annie: Oh, yes, but you're the one who likes mustard on chips, aren’t you?
Annie: I hope this isn't serious.
Billy: What?
Annie: You and Doreen.
Billy: Is it heck, I'm only having a fling.
Jack: Well I think she's quite a nice girl
Annie: Oh, yes, but you're the one who likes mustard on chips, aren’t you?
March 24, 2025 at 8:58 PM
Coronation Street, 22 May, 1961. Whit week picnic in Blackpool.
Annie: I hope this isn't serious.
Billy: What?
Annie: You and Doreen.
Billy: Is it heck, I'm only having a fling.
Jack: Well I think she's quite a nice girl
Annie: Oh, yes, but you're the one who likes mustard on chips, aren’t you?
Annie: I hope this isn't serious.
Billy: What?
Annie: You and Doreen.
Billy: Is it heck, I'm only having a fling.
Jack: Well I think she's quite a nice girl
Annie: Oh, yes, but you're the one who likes mustard on chips, aren’t you?
Tyne daily (or, ‘Hello Thelma love, what are you doing here?’)
February 3, 2025 at 11:50 AM
Tyne daily (or, ‘Hello Thelma love, what are you doing here?’)
Tyne daily (or, ‘Hello Thelma love, what are you doing here?’)
February 3, 2025 at 11:49 AM
Tyne daily (or, ‘Hello Thelma love, what are you doing here?’)
It’s @daphneheard.bsky.social’s memorial service in Oxford today, a day after what would have been his 46th birthday. I’m waiting at Reading station in a big coat and most of the service in a rucksack, feeling like Cole Hawlings. There’s a Zoom link if anyone would like to attend remotely
January 12, 2025 at 9:41 AM
It’s @daphneheard.bsky.social’s memorial service in Oxford today, a day after what would have been his 46th birthday. I’m waiting at Reading station in a big coat and most of the service in a rucksack, feeling like Cole Hawlings. There’s a Zoom link if anyone would like to attend remotely
Looking through @daphneheard.bsky.social’s poetry books for inspiration for his memorial service, and U. A. Fanthorpe’s Collected Poems (a gift to him the day I got my first job at OED in 2010) surprised me with a bitter description of not-quite-home, in her poem about Cowan Bridge:
January 6, 2025 at 8:37 AM
Looking through @daphneheard.bsky.social’s poetry books for inspiration for his memorial service, and U. A. Fanthorpe’s Collected Poems (a gift to him the day I got my first job at OED in 2010) surprised me with a bitter description of not-quite-home, in her poem about Cowan Bridge:
OED gives Lord Chief Justices and Lords Chief Justices as plural forms (I suppose the latter makes sense as they’re both lords and justices?), but not Lords Chief Justice. NGrams shows that the last has now overtaken Lords Chief Justices for second place, but both are way behind Lord Chief Justices
November 7, 2024 at 10:32 PM
OED gives Lord Chief Justices and Lords Chief Justices as plural forms (I suppose the latter makes sense as they’re both lords and justices?), but not Lords Chief Justice. NGrams shows that the last has now overtaken Lords Chief Justices for second place, but both are way behind Lord Chief Justices
Those Gwendoline Christie Highland Park adverts are quite something
November 1, 2023 at 7:40 PM
Those Gwendoline Christie Highland Park adverts are quite something
The recently revised OED entry for COVEN n. shows its development from the alleged confessions of those accused of witchcraft in Scotland in the 1600s, its revival by Scott and popularization (and elaboration) by Margaret Murray, figurative uses, and specific use in Wicca, and its complex etymology
October 31, 2023 at 8:13 PM
The recently revised OED entry for COVEN n. shows its development from the alleged confessions of those accused of witchcraft in Scotland in the 1600s, its revival by Scott and popularization (and elaboration) by Margaret Murray, figurative uses, and specific use in Wicca, and its complex etymology
Yesterday was a good day for tree roots (and also for beechnuts falling on my head)
October 8, 2023 at 9:42 PM
Yesterday was a good day for tree roots (and also for beechnuts falling on my head)