Formed on the (incorrect) assumption that the-us of Latinoctopus was asecond-declension case ending.
octopi
- (nonstandard, hypercorrect)plural ofoctopus
- Synonyms:octopuses,octopodes(see more in main entry)
2009,Keith Spicer,Paris Passions: Watching the French Being Brilliant and Bizarre,BookSurge,→ISBN,page43:Cuddling is what an epidemic of lovers are doing all around us on this nippy, dazzling day. Entangled in each other like dotingoctopi, sweethearts are seizing the day, the hour, the magic minute.
The formsoctopuses andoctopi appear roughly equally prevalent, withoctopodes being much rarer. However,octopi isnonstandard. Seeoctopus for further discussion.