[Leica] Google and Lots of Other Nouns Have Become Verbs

[buzz.hausner at verizon.net (Buzz Hausner)]

Actually, it is very common to convert nouns into verbs in the English
language.  Consider, for instance, "elbow," which became a verb only in
the Nineteenth Century.  "Focus," which comes to us as a noun from the
Latin for fireplace, is first noted as an English verb in the Nineteenth
Century, being applied as a noun to the convergence of light rays only
in 1715.  Google has made a fairly rapid transition from noun to verb,
but it is in an honorable and long linguistic tradition.

        Buzz Hausner

-----Original Message-----
From: lug-bounces+buzz.hausner=verizon.net@leica-users.org
[mailto:lug-bounces+buzz.hausner=verizon.net@leica-users.org] On Behalf
Of Peter Klein
Sent: Thursday, September 23, 2004 4:53 PM
To: lug@leica-users.org
Subject: [Leica] "Google" as a verb, was: War - What's it good for...

Kit:

The first time I heard it used as a verb was several years ago, in an
NPR
piece about the current dating scene.  IIRC, the narrator was talking
about his first date with a woman, and how weird it was how much she
knew
about him:  "And then I realized what has happened.  And I didn't know
whether to be flattered or paranoid.  She'd Googled me!"

Brian Reid would probably know the origin of the verb usage.  It may
have
been savvy marketing by a few strategic Web-plants, or a spontaneous
generation kinda thing.  Regardelss, it's incredible publicity.  Kind of
like "Kleenex" or "Xerox" being adapted as the generic term for their
respective products.

Brian:  If you don't mind talking about Them, do you know when "Google"
started being used as a verb?

--Peter