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Originally Posted by Worldwalker
I suspect "octopi" became popular for practical reasons
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My objection to it in this particular case is not its common (mis)usage in everyday speech, but the fact that Mr. Spoor has a paleontologist use it in a conversation with a professional colleague. Regardless of its everyday "misuse", I'm absolutely certain that a professional in the field would not get it wrong.
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(the extra "i" probably was added because "viri" doesn't look right)
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Just to note in passing that "viri" is, in fact, a perfectly valid Latin plural - it's the plural of "vir" - "man"; it's not, however, the plural of "virus".
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Before you go with the latter, remember the etymology of "pea".
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Good example!