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Another teacher and I have been discussing the word "paparazzi". The only unabridged dictionary I have is the 2nd edition of Random House. It states that the word first appeared in "LaDolce Vita" by Fellini (1959). There was such a photographer in the movie, and he gave him the surname Paparazzo or Paparazzi (-o is the singular term, -i is the plural. Not sure which spelling the name had in the movie). Fellini got the name from a book he was reading at the time of the movie's production, _By the Ionian Sea_ by George Gissing. (It was the name of the hotelkeeper in the book.) The Random House dictionary has dates in brackets which indicate the time around which the word first appeared in print. The dates given are 1965-70, which would cooincide with the Jackie Kennedy Onassis problem with the photographer who harrassed her. That's when I first remember hearing the word. Here's the question. Do any of you who have Webster's 2nd or any other unabridged dictionaries mind looking it up? We're curious about whether there is any word etymology on this word, since it was coined from a proper name. Does the papa- come from "father"? Could it be from papyrus? Paper? What does the -razzi suffix mean? Has anyone read the book or seen the movie? Why did he take the name from the hotelkeeper and give it to the photographer? Was he a voyeur? Nosy? Thanks for your help. I'll let you know what we find out, if you're interested. This is a question of curiosity more than anything. Thanks for your time, too! Suby Wallace swallace@nic.crsc.k12.ar.us Nettleton Intermediate Center fax: 501-930-3930 (5-6 grades) phone: 501-932-5650 3801 Vera (area code changing to 870 in Jonesboro, AR 72401 April) =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= To quit LM_NET (or set NOMAIL or DIGEST), Send an email message to: listserv@listserv.syr.edu In the message write either: 1) SIGNOFF LM_NET or 2) SET LM_NET NOMAIL or 3) SET LM_NET DIGEST For more help see LM_NET On The Web: http://ericir.syr.edu/lm_net/ =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=