The misappropriation of the word versus bugs me. Often used in sport and legal phrases, it means against or in contrast to, e.g. “Today’s game is Bandits versus Vikings”.
However, I have heard far too often children and adults butcher the word:
- “We played well last time we versed them”
- “We are versing them this weekend”
It is so incredibly wrong. How did it come into use?? Why wasn’t it squashed???