“Deaning”

On Saturday during a presentation to the Parent Council at Swarthmore the new Dean of Students used the term “deaning.”  It was the first time I had heard the verb form of dean.  I was delighted.  New words that fill needs are always welcome in the english language.  In fact they should be celebrated.  Congratulations to Dean Jim Larimore for giving me and I think the world this new word. Swarthmore is a great school and is famous for the linguists on its faculty and now in the deans office.
Learning the verb deaning was one of the high points of a wonderful week on in the South East.

This is a picture of one of the flowering trees at Swarthmore this spring.  It was taken during the hour of sunshine we had on Saturday afternoon before the deluge started.