Speaking of the desirability of using plain English, I wonder what proportion of the population – or of lawyers - now uses, or even knows the meaning of, ‘palimpsest’
Upon consulting colleagues within hailing distance of my desk, I learn that it is 'a parchment on which writing has been effaced in order to replace it with other writing'. So now I know. Have heard it bandied, of course.
What a delightfully antiquated word. I think I'll try and use it sensibly in conversation three times by the end of the day.
Yrs,
Penguina, voice of the ill-educated youth of today.