Polemical: A Word Study

Someone asked me, yesterday, to wax philosophomoric about Ann Coulter’s latest brou-not-so-ha-ha, referencing her “open mouth, insert hoof” polemical invective about the 9/11 widows:

Once, I had a pimple on my ass. I popped it. I’m sitting better all the time.

Sometimes, you just have to pop the tart.

Inspired by the Spin Doctors hit Li’l Miss Can’t Be Wrong, so appropriately named, I offer you a snippet of their #17 charting pop song, below, from 1993. Click on the triangle to hear the clip:

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Polemical tart needs the couch

In cracking open my Etymology for Dummies, I discovered the following rather interesting origins for the word polemical:

Main Entry: pol•em•ic
Pronunciation: p&-’le-mik
Function: noun
Etymology: French polémique, from Middle French, from polemique controversial, from Greek polemikos – warlike, hostile, from polemos war; perhaps akin to Greek pelemizein to shake; or Middle English polcat (see below); or Middle English poldauncen, or Old French pouldancier (see below);
1 a : an aggressive attack on or refutation of the opinions or principles of another
b : the art or practice of disputation or controversy

2 : an aggressive if not downright bitchy controversialist (see Ann Coulter): DISPUTANT
- po•lem•i•cist/-’le-m&-sist/ noun
- po•lem•i•cal-mi-k&l/ adjective or noun – a polemic who thinks they are funny (see Ann Coulter)

Or . . .

Main Entry: pole•cat
Pronunciation: ‘pOl-”kat
Function: noun
Infected Form(s): plural polecats or polecat
Etymology: Middle English polcat, probably from Middle French poul, pol cock + Middle English cat; probably from its preying on poultry — more at PULLET
1 : any of several carnivorous small-brained mammals (as of the genera Mustela or Vormela) of the weasel family; especially, a brown to black European mammal (M. putorius) from which the domesticated blonde, flea-ridden ferret is derived (see Ann Coulter)
2 : SKUNK

Plus . . .

Main Entry: pole•dance
Pronunciation: ‘dan(t)s, ‘d[a']n(t)s
Function: verb
Inflected Form(s): danced; danc•ing
Etymology: Middle English poldauncen, from Old French pouldancier
1 a : to engage in or perform a lewd dance in a vain attempt to arouse some thick-witted barbarian (see neocon) into stuffing hard currency up your twat
b : Pole dancing is a form of erotic dancing that takes muscular endurance, coordination and, hopefully, sensuality (Don’t see Ann Coulter). The dancing involves a vertical pole and is often used in night clubs. It is often combined with striptease and/or lap dancing. The dancer may simply hold the pole or use it to perform more athletic moves such as climbs, spins, body inversions and presidential impeachment proceedings.
2 : to move or seem to move up and down or about a rigid phallic symbol (see Far to the Right-Wing Christian) in a quick or lively manner (see Ann Coulter)

and finally . . .

Main Entry: bu•lim•ic
Pronunciation: /-’lE-mik, -’li-/
Function: adjective or noun
Etymology: New Latin, from Greek boulimia – great hunger, from bou- (argumentative prefix); bous (head of cattle) + limos hunger — more at cow
1 : one who suffers from an abnormal and constant craving for food, attention, ego-stroking, twat-stroking and right-wing adoration
2 : those affected with a serious eating disorder that occurs chiefly in females and is characterized by compulsive overeating usually followed by self-induced vomiting or laxative or diuretic abuse or running off at the mouth; often accompanied by guilt and depression – unless you’re a carrier

But I’m not bitter.

The Kat