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Proposed alteration of category name 'Antiquarians' to 'Antiquaries'
The correct term for a person who studies antiquities is an 'Antiquary', plural 'Antiquaries', not 'Antiquarian/s'. 'Antiquarian' is normally an adjective describing the activities of an antiquary, such as 'an antiquarian pursuit', 'of antiquarian interest', etc. Although 'antiquarian' used as a substantive has precedents as early as 1610, it is that unusual English usage, an adjectival absolute (which is to say 'an antiquarian [person]' the 'person' being understood). It would be similar if one were to refer to a Bishop as 'an Episcopal'. 'Antiquary' (with spoken emphasis on the first syllable, Ant-iquary) is the actual substantive or noun form for the person, derived from the word 'antiquity'. See Shorter Oxford English Dictionary corrected 1964 edition, page 77. I therefore propose that this category should be redirected to 'English antiquaries'. Dr Steven Plunkett19:45, 11 May 2007 (UTC)[reply]
