>From the Beginner's Guide to Effective Email:
"Re" is a Latin word meaning "about", as in the title of the important
medieval book De re metallica.
I'm afraid the Beginner's Guide is wrong.
"Re" is short for (or another version of) "In re", meaning "in the matter"
or "about the thing". "Res publica" is "the public matter" ("public
business"), what the Romans called their city-state after they got rid of
their kings. "De re metallica" would be "About metallic stuff" or
"Concerning the matter of metals", as "De rerum naturae" is "About things
in [of] nature".
"Re" has probably been used in correspondence since before there was
correspondence in English.
No doubt about that.
Now, most people think of "RE" as an abbreviation for "REgarding".
I suppose this could be true.
Hey, I don't have time for this (tempting as I find Latinity) and it's off
topic!
Cheers,
Wendell
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Wendell Piez
mailto:wapiez(_at_)mulberrytech(_dot_)com
Mulberry Technologies, Inc. http://www.mulberrytech.com
17 West Jefferson Street Direct Phone: 301/315-9635
Suite 207 Phone: 301/315-9631
Rockville, MD 20850 Fax: 301/315-8285
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