but they gradually lose their first sense, and their secondary meaning becomes the principal one.

The English language is the most composite of civilized tongues. It has borrowed from every quarter of the globe, and possesses a power of assimilation that is unparalleled. This composite character of our language renders it allowable to use words of foreign origin more freely than if it were more organic and self-evolved, like the German.

4. The Formation of Words.

Sometimes it is necessary to form a new word, to designate a new object or process. Some rules on this point will prove useful.

(1) The new word should be necessary. No new word ought to be coined, unless there is an imperative need for it. A language is not greatly improved by having many words for the same thing. We do not need donate while we have give, or orate while we have speak.

(2) It should be readily intelligible. This follows from the fact that only familiar words convey an exact meaning. A word is valueless, unless it conveys some thought.

(3) It should follow the analogy of the language. When two elements, derived from different languages, as the French cable, and the Greek gram are united, their result is called a hybrid.

The so-called law of verbal formation is that component parts of a compound word should be of the same origin. Thus the Latin termination -ity and the Saxon -ness are affixes meaning a state of being." Accordingly, from the Latin stem felic, by adding the ending -ity, we have felicity. In like manner, by adding the ending-ness to the Saxon happy, we havo

happiness. In these cases it would not be possible to use the endings interchangeably. This rule is not universal, however, since Latin stems take Saxon endings, and Saxon stems Latin endings, while some words take both; as, purity, pureness; brevity, briefness. In is generally used with Latin stems; un, with Saxon; yet we have unconscious rather than inconscious. The following words are not formed correctly : Resurrect is used as meaning to raise again; as, "He resurrected an old theory." As it comes from re, again, and surgo, I rise, it ought to mean, if anything, to rise again.

Standpoint is used in the sense of the point where one stands. We have such words as stumbling-block, block of stumbling; death-bed, bed of death; dancing-girl, girl for dancing; bread knife, knife for bread; but we cannot say, point for stand, or point of stand, or even point to stand. Hence it is thought that standing-point, point for standing, or point of view, is a preferable expression.

Experimentalize is an awkward and unnecessary formation. Experiment is a verb as well as a noun, and the ending -ize ought not to be added. Jeopardize also is a malformation. The ending -ize may be properly added to nouns and adjectives; as equalize, naturalize, moralize, civilize.

Singist, like walkist, talkist, shootist, etc., has been formed by the addition of the Greek ending -ist,-denoting the agent, or performer of an action,- -to a Saxon stem. The proper Saxon ending is -er, as singer, walker, talker, shooter. The ending -ist should be added to Greek words; as, telegraphist, photographist, philologist, rather than telegrapher, photographer, philologer. On the other hand, however, we have geographer and biographer, which have become established in the language.

Proven, though very common, is a Scoticism for proved. and ought not to be used.

Preventative is a malformation for preventive.

Plead, as a past tense, is frequently used for pleaded, following the analogy of read.

Speciality for specialty, leniency for lenity, firstly for first, enthuse for inspire, monarchial for monarchical, casuality fcr casualty, are all violations of the best usage in the formation of words.

sense.

II. PROPRIETY.

1. Meaning of Propriety.

Propriety consists in using words in their proper Here, as in the case of purity, good use is the principal test of diction. It matters little what the primary elements of a word signify, or what the meaning of a word has been. We must either use words as others understand them, or violate propriety.

Language is somewhat capricious in its changes. The word clerk, for example, in the Middle Ages meant a clergyman; by Chaucer, it is used to designate a student at a university; in later times, it was applied to a keeper of accounts; at present, it means a person who is employed as a salesman. Prevent means, etymologically, to go before; as in the passage, "I prevented the dawning of the morning."-Psalm 119: 147. Now it means to hinder. The word let once meant to hinder; but now it is used as equivalent to allow, the opposite of its ancient meaning. Edify primarily signified to build up, as a house is built; but now it is applied only to mental improvement. Painful was once applied to that which required the expenditure of pains, or effort, as a painful sermon. Now it refers to

that which causes a sensation of pain, as a “painful wound.”

2. Rules for Propriety.

Although a writer must use his own judgment in each particular case, and consult specific authorities,such as dictionaries and examples by the best authors -a few rules may be of service in choosing appropriate words.

(1) Avoid confounding words from the same radical. Such words are called paronymous or conjugate words. They do not always mean the same thing. Thus observation signifies the act or habit of noticing; "A man of observation." Observance, the celebra.

as,

tion of anything; as, "The observance of the Sabbath." We should not say, "observation of the Sabbath." Yet we may say, the man observes [notices] an action, or observes [celebrates] the Sabbath.

The following words should be carefully distinguished. Construe and Construct are quite frequently confounded' A boy constructs a sentence when he makes it. He construes it when he explains its grammatical structure.

Conscience and Consciousness both imply a knowing together, but the first is restricted to the moral sense which distinguishes between right and wrong actions; the second is used to signify the knowledge of self-existence and of mental action in general.

Falseness, Falsity and Falsehood, are all formed from the word false, but differ as follows: falseness is applied to persons only, and implies a deceptive character; falsity is the abstract quality of untruthfulness; a falsehood is an untrue assertion.

Contemptible and Contemptuous differ in this contemptible means that which deserves contempt, as a contemptible act; con temptuous means filled with contempt, as a contemptuous reply.

Neglect and Negligence mean respectively an act and a habit of carelessness; as, "I missed the train by my neglect to notice the time of day." "The house is dilapidated through negligence."

Predict and Predicate mean respectively, foretell and assert. The word "predicate" is also used erroneously in the sense of found or base; as, He predicated his action on a misconception of my meaning."

Respectfully and Respectively are occasionally confounded. Letters are sometimes closed with the expression, "Yours Respectively."

(2) Use words in their accepted sense. This requires that we attach to every word only such a meaning as will be generally understood to belong to it. Thus, the proper meaning of transpire is to breathe through, and so to become known. It is sometimes er

roneously used to signify the same as occur.

It is cor

rect to say, "The verdict of the jury has not yet transpired." It is incorrect to say, "The parade

will transpire."

The following are given as examples of words commonly misused by careless writers.

Couple is often used for two; as, "He gave me a couple of The word means two things joined together or

peaches." paired.

Aggravate is sometimes used for irritate; as, "His manner is extremely aggravating." The proper sense of the word is to add weight to; as, "You only aggravate the wrong by your conduct."

Character is used as equivalent to reputation. What a man is, makes his character; what he is thought to be, determines his reputation.

Demean is used in the sense of debase; as, "He demeaned himself by his action." It is properly equivalent to deport or behave, and is not connected with the word mean.

Allow does not mean to assert; as, " He allowed that I was wrong."

Calculate does not express the same meaning as intended, or fit; as, in this sentence " Sensational newspapers are calculated to injure the morals of the young." The word means to compute, to reckon, as by figures.

Mutual means reciprocal, not common. may be mutual friends, but A cannot be a and C.

Hence two persons mutual friend to B

Emblem is sometimes used as equivalent to sentiment or meaning. The emblem of purity is the lily, but it is absurd to say, "The emblem of the lily is purity."

"He would not go ex

Ex

Except is often used for unless; as, cept I would. Without is used wrongly in the same way. cept and without are prepositions and require an objective case. Unless is a conjunction.

As is often used for like, and like for as. As should be used when a verb is expressed; as, "He sings as I do." Like should be used when a verb is not expressed or understood as,

.