On Sat, 13 Aug 2011 03:02:26 AM Bridget Hole wrote: > Emma Winter, 41, was classified as an imbecile; no such thing as polital > correctness in those days. Remember this was the 19th century. The term imbecile referred to mental retardation and was a fairly rigourous medical (psychiatric) term. The derogatory modern useage did not exist at that time. Ditto with the words idiot (more severe mental reatrdation), moron (less severe) and cretin (congenital hypothyroidism). Another old word, not used today, is mome. -- ==== Michael Lightfoot Canberra, Australia OPC Merther, St Breock & Egloshayle, Cornwall see http://www.cornwall-opc.org michael.lightfoot@pcug.org.au ====