Did you ever notice that the word philanthropist almost sounds like philanderer? Start to pronounce "philanthropist" - you'll hear it. That's always bothered me. Those are two words you do not want to mix up, especially when introducing someone who does good deeds for mankind and all.
If I were a philanthropist, I would ask that people find a different title to call me, you know what I mean? The same would hold true if I were a pianist.
I used to work with a weird guy who happened to collect stamps. A friend of mine in the office always referred to the guy as "a known philatelist," which still cracks me up to this day!
Posted by: Karen | July 07, 2005 at 05:13 AM
It's not that wierd, sorry. "Phil" is a greek prefix which basically translates as "love" or "affection." So a philanthropist is a lover of mankind ("anthro" is greek for human), a philatelist is a lover of stamps (though I don't think it literally means stamps, it's just the evolution of the word in contemporay usage) and a philanderer is obviosly someone who loves to screw around.
Posted by: Anthony | July 07, 2005 at 08:43 AM
Just as Philadelphia is the city of brotherly love. And "Pilip" in the name books is a lover of horses. Odd. The boss at the horse farm was named Philip.
Posted by: molly | July 07, 2005 at 05:08 PM