Re: "Who is a commoner in Britain" in FAQ - what is this gobbledegook?

In medio alt.talk.royalty aperuit s.m.m. <smhonolulu@xxxxxxxxx> os suum:
http://oxforddictionaries.com/definition/commoner

Pronunciation: /??k??m??n??/
noun
1one of the ordinary or common people, as opposed to the aristocracy
or to royalty:
this is the story of the commoner who married a king
2a person who has a right over another???s land, e.g. for pasturage or
mineral extraction:
commoners' centuries-old grazing rights
cattle and ponies owned by the commoners
3(at some British universities) an undergraduate who does not have a
scholarship:
a commoner???s gown

Origin:
Middle English (denoting a citizen or burgess): from medieval Latin
communarius, from communa, communia 'community', based on Latin
communis (see common)

-----

It's just an abuse of language to come up with a definition of
"commoner" that results in royalty such as HRH The Princess Royal
being defined as such.

You might also consult the Oxford English Dictionary:
" Commoner:
1. [obsolete]
2. a. More generally: One of the common people; a member of the commonalty.
(Now applied to all below the rank of a peer.)"

If you want to register your complaint about their abuse of language, their
email is oxfordonline@xxxxxxxx Let us know when they've revised their entry
to suit your misconception.

--
François R. Velde
velde@xxxxxxxxxx (replace by "heraldica")
Heraldica Web Site: http://www.heraldica.org/
.

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