From: Dave Gomboc <dave@cs.ualberta.ca>

...

The standard may have made a mistake. It's fairly easy to swallow "multixxx" but when there are more x's it gets much harder.

Multigraph, multitask, multihyphenate, multimethod, etc. -- I think it's normal.

Of 154 words listed when I looked up "multi-" at www.m-w.com, precisely two were hyphenated. A search for "multi-i*" also found "multi-instrumentalist." A separate search also turned up "multi-ply." Aside from "multi-ply," which emphasizes its distinction from "multiply," the mathematical concept, the only hyphenated words start with "i" after "multi." Thus, "multi-index" is appropriate, whereas "multiindex" is not. Here is the list of 154 words I mentioned: multiage multiagency multiarmed multiatom multiauthor multiaxial multiband multibank multibarrel multibarreled multibillion multibillionaire multibladed multibranched multibuilding multicampus multicar multicarbon multicausal multicell multicelled multicellular multicellularity multicenter multichain multichambered multichannel multicharacter multicity multiclient multicoated multicolor multicolored multicolumn multicomponent multiconductor multicopy multicounty multicourse multicurie multicurrency multidialectal multidimensional multidimensionality multidirectional multidisciplinary multidiscipline multidivisional multidomain multidrug multielectrode multielement multiemployer multiengine multiethnic multifaceted multifamily multifilament multiflash multifocal multifrequency multifunction multifunctional multigenerational multigenic multigrade multigrain multigrid multigroup multihandicapped multiheaded multihospital multihued multi-industry multi-institutional multilane multilevel multileveled multiline multilobed multimanned multimegaton multimegawatt multimember multimetallic multimillennial multimillion multimillionaire multimode multimolecular multination multinuclear multinucleate multinucleated multiorgasmic multipage multipaned multiparameter multipart multiparticle multiparty multipath multiphase multiphasic multiphoton multipicture multipiece multipion multipiston multiplant multiplayer multipole multipower multiproblem multiproduct multipurpose multirange multiregional multireligious multiroom multiscreen multiservice multisided multisite multisize multiskilled multisource multispecies multispeed multisport multistemmed multistep multistoried multistory multistranded multisyllabic multisystem multitalented multiterminal multitiered multiton multitone multitowered multitrack multitrillion multiunion multiunit multiuse multivitamin multivolume multiwall multiwarhead multiwavelength multiyear -- Rob Stewart stewart@sig.com Software Engineer http://www.sig.com Susquehanna International Group, LLP using std::disclaimer;