TITLE: Why 'excedances' of permutations?
QUESTION [20 upvotes]: For a permutation $\pi=\pi_1\pi_2\cdots\pi_n$ written in one-line notation, an index $i$ for which $\pi_i > i$ is usually called an 'excedance.' To me, this seems like a mispelling of what should be 'exceedance': many dictionaries list 'exceedance' as a valid word, but none I can find consider 'excedance' a correct spelling of any word. Also, as far as I know, 'excedance' is pronounced like 'exceedance' (that is, ex-ceed-ance). But, while both 'excedance' and 'exceedance' are to some extent used for this permutation concept, it seems that 'excedance' is much more common.
Question: Does anyone know the origin of the spelling 'excedance' for this permutation concept? Is it an error which has become standard?

REPLY [45 votes]: Mea culpa. Comtet used the term excédence. When writing EC1 I needed an English term for this concept. For some reason I didn't like the word exceedance. I thought it looked better without the double e, analogous to proceed and procedure. Thus I made up the word excedance.