Unless otherwise specified, all etymologies and definitions are drawn from The Compact Oxford English Dictionary, 1971. The choice is part affectation, part affection, as the author wishes to preserve some of the historical artifactuality of the language, and also likes the heft of the thing itself. Conversely, for spelling, italicization and usage, we have attempted to adhere as much as possible to the Canadian Oxford Dictionary, except where the author attempts to make “a big deal” out of it (see “Postscript: On Italicization”).