On 1 Aug, 13:18, Marc  wrote:
> Tom Crispin wrote:
>
> > I used the spelling the insulter used.  I was going to qualify the
> > spelling with *sic* but when I checked, both *paedophile* and
> > *pedophile* have the same meaning.
>
> Only if you are a Merkin or a moron!
>
> OED
> "  
> paedo-
>
>    Forming nouns with the sense ‘of a child or children’ (occas. spec.
> ‘of a boy or boys’); (Biol.) forming nouns and corresponding adjectives
> with the sense ‘of or relating to immature or juvenile forms of
> organisms’, as paedogenesis, paedomorphosis.
>
> ancient Greek"
>
> "
> Ped
>
>      A1. Forming the names of classes of animals or mythical beings
> distinguished by the kind or number of their feet (or analogous appendages).
>
>      A2. Forming t
>
> French -pède and its etymon classical (and post-classical) Latin
>
> "
>
> So it's not just a case of dropping a letter  and pretending it's the
> same as the Merkins would have it, you are swopping from one langauge
> and meaning to another.- Hide quoted text -
>

see also OED:  'pedo - see paedo'

and eg paederasty = pederasty

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