Latin for “with”, used in English as a linking word. But has the other word spelled the same way now made it impossible to use without raising eyebrows?
Why wouldn’t you just use “with”?
They should be pronounced differently. And in text you would italicize the Latin word.
I know people who still say “sofa-cum-bed” (pronounced just like English “come”). In these kinds of uses, you don’t italicize it, because it has essentially been adopted into English. And if it’s spoken, you can’t italicize it anyway.
It can and is used without misunderstanding, but that doesn’t mean a lot of very immature people (like me) won’t be sniggering when it is.
I had a boyfriend in high school who was shocked - I say SHOCKED - at the constant use of the word cum in the book Still Life with Woodpecker. I had to break it to him that it was Latin for “with”, not ejaculating. There was still a lot of sex in that book - really what’s the difference?
I’ve never heard that one—and I don’t think I could hear it without snickering. The only place I hear/see the Latin cum used is in graduation honors (e.g. summa cum laude), and then it’s pronounced with a long u.
Only if you feel the noise.
and summa cum quiet…
Just thought I should get that out of the way.
Pfft. Like a common peasant?
And me as well! 
There would probably be some other words as well I’d be immature about if you mentioned them.
I have a recording of the Mass in B Minor on my iPod, and for the chorus that concludes the Gloria, Apple’s software has titled it “C*m Sancto Spiritu,” which I think makes the title, itself innocuous, pretty salacious.
Hamburger cum cheese doesn’t look good on a menu
Exactly. Unless using it in an actual Latin phrase it cums off very pretentious.
It is used widely in place and district names in the UK, especially in rural parish councils.You frequently get villages with their own name and they may well be joined in a parish with another village.Some parishes were merged due to loss of populations, others were just too small to support a living for a local vicar.
This place is just a few miles from me - Bardsey-cum-Rigton
Cliffe cum Lund
Aston cum Aughton
Bramham cum Oglethorpe
Rillington-cum-Scampston
Burton cum Walden
Dalby-cum-Skewsby
Kirklington cum Upsland
Marton-cum-Moxby
Hartwith cum Winsley
Marton Cum Grafton
Pickhill-cum-Roxby
Eskdale-cum-Ugglebarnby
Newall cum Clifton
Anston cum Membris
Ilton cum Pott
Ossett-cum-Gawthorpe
Brandsby Cum Stearsby
Stanley cum Wrenthorpe
Hawsker cum Stainsacre
Warmfield cum Heath
Elloughton-cum-Brough
Sutton cum Everley
Attercliffe-cum-Darnall
Hipperholme-cum-Brighouse
Wetwang-cum-Fimber
Huddleston cum Lumby
Carperby cum Thoresby
Mayfield Cum Mulgrave
Sewerby cum Marton
Stainland Cum Old Lindley
Oulton cum Woodlesford
Wilsden cum Allerton
East Carlton & Cottingham cum Middleton
Selby cum membris
St Martin Cum Gregory
Landmoth cum Catto
Alverthorpe cum Thornes
Ilton-Cum-Pot
Elland cum Greetland
Conistone cum Kilnsey
Bear in mind that these place names are only in one county in England, so that should give you some idea of the common use of this naming convention.If you go into archaic districts then it becomes even more common.
You can google all these and find out a little bit more about them.
You misspelled “noize.”
I suppose it depends on the maturity level of the reader, and their familiarity with Latin infixes. I’m fairly immature, though, so I feel mildly embarrassed for people who live in Cumming, Georgia or have the surname Cummings.
Alan Cumming doesn’t even have the decency to leave the S on.
Nor would a French dip sandwich cum jus.