Flynn
First Post
Good Morning, All:
I have noticed over the last few years that the term "boni" is gaining popularity among a small crowd here on ENWorld.
For example, from the 4E forum:
I looked up the word on Dictionary.Com, and it does not exist in that online dictionary:
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/boni
From the context, I figured someone might be trying to indicate the plural of bonus, so I looked that word up to see what the plural form was:
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/bonus
Turns out that the plural of "bonus" is "bonuses", not "boni".
I assume that this slang word originated from an inappropriate application of the grammatical rule of thumb that suggests words ending in -us could be made plural by changing the suffix to -i. However, that is not always the case:
http://linuxmafia.com/~rick/faq/plural-of-virus.html
http://www.askoxford.com/asktheexperts/faq/aboutgrammar/plurals
Is there another alternative for the origin of this slang term? If so, I would appreciate hearing about it, as I find the word itself jarring when I am reading through posts here on ENWorld, and am now finally curious enough to ask about it.
Thank you in advance for any enlightenment you might be able to give on this subject,
Flynn
I have noticed over the last few years that the term "boni" is gaining popularity among a small crowd here on ENWorld.
For example, from the 4E forum:
Anthtriel said:Also note how it cares about the con bonus, which works well with my prediction that status effects work on the 4E level adjusted attribute boni.
I looked up the word on Dictionary.Com, and it does not exist in that online dictionary:
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/boni
From the context, I figured someone might be trying to indicate the plural of bonus, so I looked that word up to see what the plural form was:
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/bonus
Turns out that the plural of "bonus" is "bonuses", not "boni".
I assume that this slang word originated from an inappropriate application of the grammatical rule of thumb that suggests words ending in -us could be made plural by changing the suffix to -i. However, that is not always the case:
http://linuxmafia.com/~rick/faq/plural-of-virus.html
http://www.askoxford.com/asktheexperts/faq/aboutgrammar/plurals
Is there another alternative for the origin of this slang term? If so, I would appreciate hearing about it, as I find the word itself jarring when I am reading through posts here on ENWorld, and am now finally curious enough to ask about it.
Thank you in advance for any enlightenment you might be able to give on this subject,
Flynn