We've lost this battle, but I thought I'd like to stick a pin in the map to show where there used to be a perfectly good word: "healthful". It meant "good for you", and, in relation to food, was similar in meaning to "nutritious".
A piece of toast or a tomato might be "healthful" when eaten. However, a piece of toast cannot be "healthy", which means "enjoying good health". A tomato can only be "healthy" if it's still on the vine, thriving and free from disease.
Now, food is considered "healthy" if it's good for you. So is a brisk walk. So is a good attitude. Good-bye, healthful!
Hats off to William Safire, who's better at this than I am. (White House photo by Shealah Craighead from Wikipedia, in the public domain.)
And to luxuriant-locked linguistic psychologist Steven Pinker, who would probably say none of these niceties matter, but it's interesting to figure out how they develop and evolve.
1 comment:
Au contraire bear...I would argue that "healthy" toast is toast that hasn't been stepped on, kicked about the kitchen floor or had dust, debris or other foreign materials ground into it; it would probably be more healthful by extension.
I try to eat healthy toast on a daily basis; I'm just orientated that way...
Healthful, invigorating Sani-Cola...
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