Trolling the Troll

I keep stumbling across references to the President of the United States in the Apple Dictionary (A lexicographer’s gem) :

“comity”

(Definition #2) [mass noun] courtesy and considerate behaviour towards others: a show of public comity in the White House.

“couth”

noun [mass noun] good manners; refinement: he has no couth, no brains and doesn’t know the meaning of the word diplomacy.

…

Source: Apple Dictionary, Version 2.3.0 (239.5)

Interesting to note that “couth” only is attested from the late 19th century on as a back-formation from “uncouth”. I do wonder what social forces may have been at play to usher such a word into the common vocabulary of English speakers.

Work of the translator at Google… gives the form “couth” for the French with oddball pronunciation.

https://translate.google.ca/?hl=fr&tab=wT#view=home&op=translate&sl=en&tl=fr&text=couth
< Accessed April 20, 2020 < suggested they use "savoir faire"

Back translation leads me to Word Hippo and a definition for savoir-faire : "The ability to do or say what is appropriate for the occasion" and a long list of synonyms including "manners", "social graces", and "urbanity".

https://www.wordhippo.com/what-is/another-word-for/savoir-faire.html < Accessed April 20, 2020

Oh and let's not forget "tactfulness".

The lexicographers may not be trolling but I am.

And so for day 2773
16.07.2014