When/why did people start using "adult" as a verb?

[mjr]

A perfect example is in those special two words brought to us by the Simpsons; you all know what they are. They are, as of last count, in the OED. That's about as official as you get.

Like "kwyjibo"?

[Mr Hero]

We doing made up words? The big one in my house is that we don't use moving boxes when we move, we using moving boxen (one ox, many oxen, one box, many boxen?).

I like to say "boxen" a lot too thanks to this guy.

[It's me]

That person is probably from the north east. We leave out helping verbs a fair amount in PA.

There was a Grammar Girl podcast on this not long ago. I look a quick look on her website but couldn't see it.... my Google-foo failed me as I have no clue as what search terms to use to find it. http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/grammar-girl

[notalwaysright]

That person is probably from the north east. We leave out helping verbs a fair amount in PA.

The person I was quoting was born and raised in the PNW. She did that a lot, but I haven't heard anyone else talk like that. She also said "leggens" instead of leggings.

I have a bunch of things which bother me regarding pronunciation. One is so prevalent that I think it's an alternate spelling or something now. Sherbet. There's no second R. Also, en route. I'm not perfect with my grammar, but the way some things are said just makes me cringe. However, small things usually don't bother me as much. Like how some people will say "bag" like beg. "Can I get a beg." That's not so bad.

Probably I could work on my use of "quotes."

[mjr]

The person I was quoting was born and raised in the PNW. She did that a lot, but I haven't heard anyone else talk like that. She also said "leggens" instead of leggings.

I have a bunch of things which bother me regarding pronunciation. One is so prevalent that I think it's an alternate spelling or something now. Sherbet. There's no second R. Also, en route. I'm not perfect with my grammar, but the way some things are said just makes me cringe. However, small things usually don't bother me as much. Like how some people will say "bag" like beg. "Can I get a beg." That's not so bad.

Probably I could work on my use of "quotes."

I was born, raised, and live in Texas, and I've heard some interesting ones here myself.

Like I've heard "egg" pronounced like "aig" and "wash" pronounced like "warsh".

Of course, I've also heard "get" pronounced "git", and we leave the letter g off of the ends of "ing" words -- a lot. I'm native Texan, so I do it too...

So instead of saying "singing", we'd say "singin'"

Of course, here we also say things like "dang ole" and "dad gum", too. And "son of a b***h" is sometimes "sumb***h"...

And let's not forget the ever-popular "fixin' to".

[EricKei]

I only know one of the Simpsons words, but I'm sure the other one is perfectly cromulent.

^_^ Embiggen and cromulent (EDIT: The former is not in there as of two years ago, but I'm fairly certain the latter is. Mea culpa). Both are from the same clip.

Note that "D'oh!" is in there, as well.

I'm almost sorry that I did some research for this Reply. It turns out that the incorrect usage of "literally" (i.e. using it for emphasis, but not in regard to actual fact) IS in the OED. Ya see, examples of that usage date back to at least the 1600's. Sad.

[wolfie]

NAR, I guess that means some of your customers are begging for a "beg". Should be OK, so long as they don't put all their "begs" in one "ask it".

[MoonCat]

^_^ Embiggen and cromulent (EDIT: The former is not in there as of two years ago, but I'm fairly certain the latter is. Mea culpa). Both are from the same clip.

Note that "D'oh!" is in there, as well.

I'm almost sorry that I did some research for this Reply. It turns out that the incorrect usage of "literally" (i.e. using it for emphasis, but not in regard to actual fact) IS in the OED. Ya see, examples of that usage date back to at least the 1600's. Sad.

OMG embiggen makes me cringe, scream and throw things--figuratively. (See what I did there? ) What the hell was wrong with increase or enlarge??

[Javarod]

I like to say "boxen" a lot too thanks to this guy.

This channel is great for things about our language: https://youtu.be/bDPrlXSWR8U English is weird, I've heard it described as other languages borrow from each other, English lurks in dark alleys and mugs them for whatever words they have on them.

I was born, raised, and live in Texas, and I've heard some interesting ones here myself.

Like I've heard "egg" pronounced like "aig" and "wash" pronounced like "warsh".

Of course, I've also heard "get" pronounced "git", and we leave the letter g off of the ends of "ing" words -- a lot. I'm native Texan, so I do it too...

So instead of saying "singing", we'd say "singin'"

Of course, here we also say things like "dang ole" and "dad gum", too. And "son of a b***h" is sometimes "sumb***h"...

And let's not forget the ever-popular "fixin' to".

In the south, we got words they don't have in other parts of the country...
https://youtu.be/0VSdYaX114Q

[EricKei]

There's always the deepest depths of urban New Orleans, too, where you can go down by ya' mama's to eat a dressed poboy, stuffed with catfish that has been deep-fried in erl, sittin' on a baguette dat's got it some good mynez spread upon it. Then ya warsh it down wit' an ice-cold Barq's longneck. After yer done, you can go and wrench yer hands in da zinc.

Oh, hush. You knew this was coming.

[greek_jester]

English is weird, I've heard it described as other languages borrow from each other, English lurks in dark alleys and mugs them for whatever words they have on them.

That would be James Nicoll; the full quote is:

The problem with defending the purity of the English language is that English is about as pure as a cribhouse whore. We don't just borrow words; on occasion, English has pursued other languages down alleyways to beat them unconscious and rifle their pockets for new vocabulary.

So elegantly phrased!

[dalesys]

... English is about as pure as a cribhouse whore...

And that's why it has a voclapulary.

[Valentinian]

I've heard "English is the result of Norman men-at-arms trying to pick up Saxon barmaids, no more legitimate than any of the other results."

[mjr]

In the south, we got words they don't have in other parts of the country...

Here in Texas, where people talk normal!

Though it's a point of debate as to whether or not Texas should be considered part of "the South".

I keep tellin' 'em (other people), You're gon' be real surprised when you get to Heaven and St. Peter says, "Y'all git in th' truck! We're goin' up to the big house!"

[Food Lady]

My family is from the south. I consider Texas part of the southwest, which to me is different. I also like to refer to Texas and southern CA as "northern Mexico."