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From: munson@squirt.DEC
Newsgroups: net.politics
Subject: Is sugar a staple?
Message-ID: <3701@decwrl.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 16-Aug-85 14:09:14 EDT
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Posted: Fri Aug 16 14:09:14 1985
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My dictionary, _The American Heritage Dictionary_, office version, says the
word staple means 1) a major product or commodity, 2) a major part, element,
or feature, 3) raw material.  As an adjective, it means 1) regularly grown or
produced in large quantities, 2) principle; leading.

In the items I mentioned in my previous posting, the first (noun) meaning 
certainly holds.  The second holds unless you consider the word 'major' in its
strictest sense, that is, as more than 50%.  The third meaning is debatable.
Sugar is certainly a refined substance, but it is used in many other end
products
.  The first adjectival meaning is indubitable, the second is arguable.

Anyone else want to argue that sugar is not a staple?

					As always,
					Joanne E. Munson

P.S.  For the grammarians in the crowd, yes, I know that the word I wanted
to describe the first type of entry in the dictionary was 'nominal'.  I only
hope my punctuation hasn't offended you in addition.