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Re: [Phys-l] "Flow"



Bernard Cleyet wrote:
I answered the question for myself by using google (etymonline.com). From the similarity in the roots and the words themselves,

Well, that's the wrong answer.

The Century Dictionary documents the roots of both words in considerable
detail, and explicitly remarks that "fluid" words are /not/ related to
"flow" words.

I think the idea of flow should be eschewed by instructors of beginners, except for (with) real (as opposed to imaginary) fluids, e.g. water, gasses, ions, etc.

That's an astonishingly lame argument. The etymological argument
would be irrelevant even if it were not completely wrong.

Fluids are an example of flow ... but not the only example, and
not the definition of flow.

Britney is an example of a singer ... but not the only example,
and not the definition of singer.