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Chris -- 2011-03-08
#1 2010-02-25 06:44:33
"intern" for "inter"
Hello everyone. Occasional visitor, first-time commenter!
Today I saw what might be a new example — at least, it’s new to me, it seems like an eggcorn, and I don’t see it in the database. The UK Telegraph, reporting on Dick Francis’s funeral, says that “He was interned [sic] next to his wife on Grand Cayman.”
Maybe this is a straightforward typo, but Francis’s remains are undoubtedly being detained, though not against his will. There is also a sense in which the author’s body was made internal to the earth.
(The OED mentions an early-17C-only usage of intern to mean “become incorporated or united with another being”.)
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#2 2010-02-25 20:44:13
- David Bird
- Eggcornista
- From: Montréal, QC
- Registered: 2009-07-28
- Posts: 1079
Re: "intern" for "inter"
Welcome to the forum, Stan. I believe that interned for interred is a valid eggcorn. Following the logic you’ve presented, I looked for another way of seeing the burial, as an inturnment. That would make a connection to being turned into the earth, the turning of sod, the worm turning and maybe even turning in your grave. This first example is even stranger – looks like he/she’s suggesting that the body is to be moved after inturnment.
Driving with a stiff
You will need death certificate, ouptopsy papers if there was one and letter from where the body was inturned and where it is to be delivered.
Dr. Liverpool, I presume.....
he died in London in 1904 and his body was inturned in Pilbright/Surry’s cemetary.
Last edited by David Bird (2010-02-27 12:36:15)
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#3 2010-02-26 18:43:33
- yanogator
- Eggcornista
- Registered: 2007-06-07
- Posts: 63
Re: "intern" for "inter"
I thought only cremated remains were inturned. : )
Bruce
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#4 2010-02-27 09:59:55
Re: "intern" for "inter"
Thank you for the welcome, David. I’m glad to hear that you consider it a valid eggcorn, though I don’t see what it has to do with dying “interstate” — apart from the partially overlapping theme.
That’ll be my newbie status, I suppose.
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