From: utzoo!decvax!decwrl!sun!megatest!fortune!guzis
Newsgroups: net.nlang
Title: Re: Surprising words
Article-I.D.: fortune.784
Posted: Sun Feb 13 21:27:42 1983
Received: Wed Feb 16 03:44:37 1983
References: iheds.205 uw-beave.338


I vaguely remember an 18th century report of a description of one of Sir
Christopher Wren's buildings as -

	"both artificial and awful"

Which was intended as a compliment!  Artificial = having the qualities of an
artifice;  Awful = inspiring or creating a feeling of awe.

Though, I'll grant "awful" was probably spelled "awefull". interesting how both words have acquired a negative connotation.

					- Chuck Guzis
					...fortune!guzis