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Yep, if it had just settled the term for a lotus fan:
LOTUSONIANS
LOTITES
LOTIPHILES
LOTANS
PROLOTILITES
PROLOTIPHILONIANS
INSANE
ETC...
LOTUSONIANS
LOTITES
LOTIPHILES
LOTANS
PROLOTILITES
PROLOTIPHILONIANS
INSANE
ETC...
Agreed with either the Insane or Lotus-Eaters.Yep, if it had just settled the term for a lotus fan:
LOTUSONIANS
LOTITES
LOTIPHILES
LOTANS
PROLOTILITES
PROLOTIPHILONIANS
INSANE
ETC...
Presumably a Roman, since "Lotus" is a Latin word.Thank you! I hate the word loti (disrespect it so much it does not even get a capital l)
I don't know what clown ever thought of loti as a plural
Isn't "Lotus" originally a Greek word? From "Lotos" ie. Lotus-eaters that appeared in Homers' Odysseus?Presumably a Roman, since "Lotus" is a Latin word.
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No to your first and second premises, but I do agree with "Lotuses" as a pretty good solution. The Latin equivalent would be loti, which sounds horrible and pedantic, and even a Roman might correct you, since as "lotus" originates in the Greek λωτός, you'll find both lotos and lotus in Latin literature, and since the plural in Greek was "oi", not "i" (which is why "octopi" is completely wrong) you'll find lotoi in Latin as well. Moreover, if we stuck to the exact Latin in all instances we'd be forced to use prospectus as the plural of prospectus, for example, since that's how that particular declension made its plurals in Latin.Greek words that came to English directly retain the i for the plural form.
Greek words that came to English indirectly, through Latin for example, do not retain the i for the plural form. (British English :UK: does make a few exceptions, but American English does not!)
Therefore, normal grammar rules apply. Lotuses is the correct plural form, regardless of how bad it sounds and notwithstanding memoranda to the contrary.
From this I conclude:
It is always correct to say "Lotuses" but it sounds wrong.
It is always incorrect to say "Loti" but it sounds goofy and/or academic
It is always a cop-out to avoid the issue and say "Lotus cars."
I say "Lotus cars."![]()