Having always used 'species' for both singular and plural uses, I began to sweat/glow slightly from the palms at this question. But the OED's response warmed my subby little heart.
Not only were the fresh desk and the subs desk victorious in their rightness (I was right, right, RIGHT I tell you), but the fish man was wrong. Terribly wrong. Mwah ha haaaa.
specie:So unless we are talking about cod coins, we'll stick with 'species' thank you ever so.
(mass noun)
money in the form of coins rather than notes
species:
noun (pl same)
a group of living organisms consisting of similar individuals capable of exchanging genes or interbreeding
Well I have learnt something today having never heard of specie I am glad to be better informed. Also pleased that it had not occurred to me to knock the s off of species - just would have sounded completely wrong.
ReplyDeleteIt was specious.
ReplyDeleteIt was indeed!
ReplyDeleteCathy, your blog posts are delightful. 'nuf said.
ReplyDeleteArigatou gozaimasu, Chie-san!
ReplyDelete