The English language can make no sense at times. Take the word “wonted,” for instance. At first glance, it appears to be a misspelling. If someone you were talking to used the word in a sentence, you would probably think they said: “wanted.” The word “wonted” means habitual or usual. How about the sentence, “It was [customary] to see Bill Smith’s face on wanted posters.” Now let us use “wonted” in place of “customary,” “It was wonted to see Bill Smith’s face on wanted posters.” Confusing, isn’t it?
“Wonted” was first used in the early 15th century in Middle English. Word keeps telling me that “wonted” is spelled wrong. Good old Microsoft is as confused as any of us would be when confronted with the word “wonted.” Hey, if Microsoft is labeling spelling as incorrect, it must be!
