Guest  +  48572 Sat, 02 Oct 04 12:50 AM The word ‘dated’ is defined in many dictionaries (e.g., MW, Oxford, Cambridge, American Heritage) as: Main Entry: dat·ed Function: adjective 1 : provided with a date 2 : OUTMODED, OLD-FASHIONED - dat·ed·ly adverb - dat·ed·ness noun Following usage illustrates meaning #2: The article is slightly dated. That book is dated but has stood the test of time. Now, a friend contends that the dictionaries have it wrong. Meaning #1 (provided with a date) is the only correct meaning. As for meaning #2 (outmoded), people have misused it long enough, so now it has entered the dictionaries. Any thoughts on the history of using ‘dated’ to mean outmoded or old-fashioned? Is it incorrect usage? Thanks, Cindy Lee. Guest Verbs, Nouns, Articles, Adverbs, Dates

	Mister Micawber  +  48578 Sat, 02 Oct 04 01:24 AM Hi Cindy, 'Dated' meaning 'outmoded' is certainly not incorrect, but probably much the more common usage, outside of the set phrase 'this letter, dated 2 January'. While Oxford calls it colloquial, Webster's makes no such distinction. As to its history, I can only say that use is not mis-use if followed by a considerable number of native speakers: if that is what it has come to mean, then that is the normal evolution of the idiom. Mister Micawber Joined on Wed, Aug 4 2004 Yokohama Veteran Member 30,825 'The question is,' said Humpty Dumpty, 'which is to be master-- that's all.' Idioms