What is the plural of "peccadillo?"?

Question

Is it "pecadillos" or "pecadilloes?"

Mirriam-Webster states:
Inflected Form(s): plural -loes or -los. Web searches for both forms come up with claims to correctness on both sides. The fact that it is a romance-language derived term would suggest just an "s", but the spelling change in English could change that? William Safire claims that it could go either way.

I do not think that this is a question easily answered with a web search, or the pasting in of a web site cite (excuse the pun), but rather, requires a detailed knowledge of etymology.

Answer 1

The correct spelling for plural of Peccadillo is "PECCADILLOS"-

Pronunciation: [pek-ê-'di-lo] Listen

Definition: A teeny-tiny, barely discernable sin or fault.

Usage: The plural is "peccadillos" and there is no adjective. Notice English-speakers have doubled the "c" in the spelling of the word, no doubt, to solve the problem of remembering which internal consonant is doubled. (A spelling convenience in English! Will wonders never cease?)

Suggested Usage: This is a useful term to have on your side when minimizing your shortcomings: "Mom! So I drove the car through the garage wall. Why do you allow my petty peccadillos roil you so?" It always understates events in the economic or political worlds: "Even his supporters are vexed by Clinton's frequent peccadillos." -

Answer 2

Both forms are acceptable. The "es" ending is the better English plural and follows other words ending in "o" such as "potatoes" and "tomatoes". It is, however, recent enough to form a plural by taking "s" alone so "peccadillos" is acceptable. Another word where both plural forms are used is "tornadoes/tornados".

Answer 3

Just an S