Esculate (error)

Although there is a word esculent, the commonly used verb escalate (meaning 'to step up', 'to become more so') and a related noun escalation should NEVER be pronounced esculate (IPA: /ˈɛskjʊleɪt/). The pronunciation preferred in academic English is 'ESK-er-late', IPA: /ˈɛsk ə leɪt/.

• Escalate, which derives ultimately from the Latin scala, 'stair', means most commonly in academic British English 'to increase step by step', or "To increase or develop by successive stages" (OED).

• • Esculent means 'edible', or 'suitable for food'. The '-ulent' element is derived from the Latin "-ulentus employed to form adj[ective]s, usually with the force of ‘abounding in’, ‘full of’ (some thing or quality)" (OED).