Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/18/84; site decwrl.UUCP Path: utzoo!linus!philabs!prls!amdimage!amdcad!decwrl!munson@squirt.DEC 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 Article-I.D.: decwrl.3701 Posted: Fri Aug 16 14:09:14 1985 Date-Received: Tue, 20-Aug-85 01:34:11 EDT Sender: daemon@decwrl.UUCP Organization: Digital Equipment Corp., Palo Alto, CA Lines: 21 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.