Jinx wrote:
> A little diversion for the w/e, and may you'll have the same
> dilemma and internal dialogue as I've had
> =

> I'm filling in a quite comprehensive opinion survey, and one part I'm
> really stuck on is
> =

> "Please write down the names of 3 public figures you admire the most"

-snip-

> It just got me to thinking - there are people I don't like, but maybe
> admire, there are people I like but don't admire. Pehaps business
> leaders ?

Ah, it is once again time for us provincial yankees to receive another =

lesson in the mother tongue - english.

One might well have assumed that "admire" and "like" (in this sense) =

were synonymous.  But Jinx would have us consider otherwise.

Jinx, you suggest above that you may like, but don't admire, some =

people.  Here in the region bounded by Canada and Mexico, many tend to =

see those concepts as one and the same.  See the excerpt below from one =

of the common dictionaries.  So it is a new idea to me, at least, that =

one would perhaps like someone but not admire them.

I enjoy learning of these linguistic variations.  Although the Chinese =

may change things in the future, the bulk of communication upon the =

internet seems to be in english and some may worry that we all are =

accelerating towards a common dull finality where everyone thinks alike. =

  But that end may be one that we will neither like nor admire! So it is =

good that these small but significant differences of language appear now =

and then.


* * * * * * * * * * * * * *

admire (=E0d-m=ECr=B4) verb
admired, admiring, admires verb, transitive
1.To regard with pleasure, wonder, and approval.
2.To have a high opinion of; esteem or respect.
3.Chiefly New England & Upper Southern U.S. To enjoy (something): "I =

just admire to get letters, but I don't admire to answer them" (Dialect =

Notes).
4.Archaic. To marvel or wonder at.

verb, intransitive
New England & Upper Southern U.S.
To marvel at something.

[French admirer, from Old French amirer, from Latin adm=ECr=E2r=EC, to wond=
er =

at : ad-, ad- + m=ECr=E2r=EC, to wonder (from m=ECrus, wonderful).]
- admir=B4er noun
- admir=B4ingly adverb

Excerpted from The American Heritage=AE Dictionary of the English =

Language, Third Edition  =A9 1996 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Electronic =

version licensed from INSO Corporation; further reproduction and =

distribution in accordance with the Copyright Law of the United States. =

All rights reserved.

-- =

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