If you sense an attack on a dictionary word, try to take it back with as much verve as you can muster. "People conspire all the time to get things done. It's

If you sense an attack on a dictionary word, try to take it back with as much verve as you can muster. "People conspire all the time to get things done. It's why we're such bosses. 'What a piece of work is a man! how noble in reason! how infinite in faculty! in form and moving how express and admirable! in action how like an angel!' Was there a particular conspiracy you were thinking of?" "I was thinking about the patriarchal tyranny of language, not just in the bible but even Shakespeare." "As opposed to a more enlightened gender neutral language, like Farsi? Not only a lack of gender articles, but pronouns?" "Yes." "Well... how'd that work out?"