This question has bothered me for years, but it was only after a graphic designer pasted some in some work for me (and then couldn’t explain it!) that I got serious about getting an answer.
Thank you. I will now be able to sleep at night.
And the column being referenced is What does the filler text “lorem ipsum” mean?.
Thank you for the adding the actual link to the column!
I was able to find the text on-line, at http://patriot.net/~lillard/cp/cic.fin1.html
These types of columns are some of my absolutely favorie things. Mysteries that sound totally creepy, but have an absolutely practical explanation, which the mere mortal couldn’t find out by websurfing or anything else. This is when Cecil saves us, in my opinion. -j
The lorem ipsum text actually isn’t “pseudo-latin” as it was called. It is actually a true latin text taken from a manuscript of “The extremes of good and evil” by Cicero. It was true Latin when he wrote it, but it is not part of today’s Latin grammar. And it is also only the first two words of that passage of text.
Welcome to the Straight Dope Message Boards, HotTippic, we’re glad to have you with us.
If you’ll read Cecil’s column What does the filler text “lorem ipsum” mean?, you’ll find he says, sort of , what you said:
So, it’s not that the words aren’t in use any more, it’s that the first couple letters of “dolorem” were cut off.
Cicero evidently never knew about S&M… :dubious: