Don’t get too focused on this, but notice how many times these two words are misused in the coming days: lectern and podium.

Remember: podium has a root in pod-, meaning foot (podiatrist!); thus, you stand on a podium. That thing that you stand behind that holds your notes: that’s a lectern (its root is in a word meaning to read).

As to the picture: this detail is above the door to the stairs to the second-floor units in a four-apartment building. I think the structure was built as apartments, and is not a converted single-family home. Still, this is a lovely detail that cost extra initially, and extra money continues to be spent to keep it bi-color.

This entry was posted in language on Wednesday, 7 January 2009 at 5:06 pm.
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