Jackson6612  +  326407 Thu, 08 Feb 07 05:52 PM Please check the following line in bold which appears in the definition of cataract in Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary. [ME, fr. MF or ML; MF catharacte, fr. ML cataracta, fr. L, portcullis] What do those above words in blue colour stand for? Jackson6612 Joined on Wed, Dec 27 2006 Senior Member 3,688 It’s a difficult question for any man to answer… Whether to follow his dreams no matter what… Or to give in slowly and let life lead you where it will.

	Feebs11  +  326431 Thu, 08 Feb 07 06:34 PM M.E. =Middle English M.F. = Mediaeval French M.L. = Mediaeval Latin L. = Latin for similar abbreviations see  http://www.etymonline.com/abbr.php Feebs11 Joined on Thu, Nov 23 2006 UK Veteran Member 5,015 Abbreviations

	Lil' Ruby Rose  +  326434 Thu, 08 Feb 07 06:38 PM The string of abbreviations gives the etymology of the word.  ME is Middle English (i.e. English from before the 16th century), MF is Middle French and ML is Medieval Latin.  L is classical Latin. Your dictionary should have a key of abbreviations in the front.  Did you try looking there first? Lil' Ruby Rose Joined on Wed, Dec 20 2006 Regular Member 879 Enlightenment is always preceded by confusion. Abbreviations