Semi-weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1852-1853, 1853-02-16
For the STANDARD.
For the Standard.
THE STUDY OF WORDS,
By RICHARD CHENEvIx TRENCH, b. D. For sale

+ ~. L. Pomeroy.
This is one of the msst instructive, we'll as in
teresling books have met with for some time, nIC
we particularly recommend il to those tho unde
the impression that the study Of mere words must
necessarily. be dry and unin,eresing all who
sufficiently we'll grounded ia the dead languages
to trace them to their primitive roots. which ir
many instances only be found in the Latin or Greek
We could easily understand the pleasure Of thus de-
irving words, but until read this little volume
confess ourselves to have been under the impression
1t was only to be enjoyed by the ripe classical
scholar; for the English language if may be al.
lowed the expression, is of the Composite order OF
architecture, uniting the manly strength of the Doric
and feminine elegance of the Ionic with the orna-
mental richness of the Corinthan; author
better expresses it, I" it is like the earth with its
strata and deposites, not of gravel and chalk, sand
stone and limestone, but of Celtic Latin, SaXon
Danish, Norman, and then again Latin an! French
words. with slighter ntusions from other sources"
| w lthont any previous knowledge Of Geology, " The
Footprints of the Creator - was only in
structlve but entertaining work. and think 1t
no eXaggeration to call Professor Trench the Hugh
Miller cf Philoogy, for he has made what has here
totore been considered dry and repusive study in
erestng to all Intelligent persons though they
may be ignorant OF any but the English tongne. OF
course pleasure is increased in proportion to
Knowledge of other languages, just
beauties in the originals of Homer and Virgil than
even In the best ransatlons yet 1t would surely he
absurd that account reject the TRANSACTIONS alto
gether g w ores may be the FOOLS couners bnt to
reverse the words Of one Of false prophets,
| )
Of the sea, nnumerable disconnected atoms. but
growing out of ROOTS clustering in families, connect
| ing and INTERVIEWING themselves with all that men
have been doing, and thinking. and feeling from the
beginning of the world Till now Dr.. Johnson has
styled language the pedigree Of nations, while
popular American author has characterized it as
- fossil poetry" our au:her, while he admits the
phrase is striking one, is tempted 10 find fault with
II too narrow, I" for it may be affirmed with the
same truth that it is fossil ethics fossil history.
lie even goes so far as 10 say " that surprising all
other records to have persisted We mi ht almost re-
construct our history, SO tar as II turned upon the
Norman conquest, by analysis of present Ian
guage, mastering Of its words in groups, and
close o5seEvacn Of the nature and character of those
which the woTaces have severdlly contributed to it,.
Thus we should confidently conclude that lie Nor
man the ruling race from the fact that most Of
the words of dignity, state and honor descended to
US from them-as sovereign. sceptre, throne, realm,
royalty, homage duke, count chancellor, treasurer,
60; while household words, such as father, mother,
husband, wife, and dduehter-also the instru-
ments used in cutivatng the earth, and its main pro-
ducts, such fail, plough, spade sickle, wheat, !
rye oats, and barley are Saxon. The reader of w.
anhoe will remember that Wanda adds his testimony
10 this when he tells Gur;h that Sscise s good Sax
on, but pork true Norman-FEeach,'' adding that
"a lderinan Or holds his Saxon epittets while he is
under the charge of sers and bondsmen. but becomes
Beef, fiery French gallant, when he arrives before
the worsh.Pful jaws destined TO consume hun. Myn-
heeE Calf, too. becomes Monsieur de Veau in the
like manner; he is Saxon when he requires tendance
and takes Norman when he becomes matter
OF enjoyment" Our author also gives inter-
esting chapter in history. from the word potrOOn,"
which he tells US g many excellent etymologists
have considered TO be derived from the Latin " pol
lice tEuncus, who is deprived, has deprived
himself, Of his thumb This at the first glance
does not appear to throw much light on the meaning
OF polToon,' butif we will remember that the bow
was the weapon most in among the English be-
fore the invention of gunpo WIDER, we shall immedi-
ateiy perceive that soldier who had lost his thumb
could be Of little in war, as he would be unable
"A he hOV hSf III "a Inns
nuulate themselves is all improbable for we
know that to escape conscrpton in Bonapartes wars
many persons cut off the forefnger, which disabled
hem from drawing the trigger While travellers tell
is that in many parts of Egypt PCT out their
light eyes to escape the Tyranny of Mehemet Ali
The word " saunter :" contains another chapter in
history it is derived rather corrupted from Sainte
ferre CT the Hoy Land. AT first religious enhu-
asm induced men 10 visit ,
.Thosc holy fields, :
Over whose acres walked those blessed feet
Which fourteen hundred wears ago were nailed 1
For our advantage on the bitter cross; ; I
tut eventually pilgrimage beclme only excuse \
0 wander al leisure or saunler" through the coun
ries intervening between it and the pilgrims home,
nd the word gradually came 10 express this IDLE
erIng.
Gibbon, in his Decline ard Fall Of the Roman EN- '
ire, gives us the orig in of two words which have \
een adopted into the English language, assassin "
nd 49, Lauc." The first was the name of Persian j.
rice, who like the Thugs Of India. considered muir
he dagger, and they always endeavored surprise '
heir victim; they were extirpaed by Heagu Khan, a
randson of Zengis Khan. mot a vestge Of these Z
nemtes of mankind remains, saws Ciibbon, except
he word assassin, which in the odious sense N
been adopted in the languages OF Europe" Slave
re lind, by reference 10 the work, is derived 3
rom Sclhvonian. properly Slovenian. tribe =
rho "from the EuXine to :he Adriatic the state 1
captiyes subjects, allies, enemies Of the Greek D
Umpire overspread the land and the national appel
lrion of the Slaves has been degraded by chance
malace from the Specification OF glory that of U
ervitude.'' (See Gibbon. chapters "a and 55.) .
To the interesting lecture is that on The u
Use of New Words.'' W. Americans are not liue b
dicued by the English for our habit of coming ords
express ideas; according toi'rrench should q
lther be proud than ashamed Of our Amercanisms, 81
u he truly says that uA words in language with
lie exception of its primitive time d
oveties;'' while Leber, in his Political Ethics, M
pcny justi6es the coming of words; he defines q
State to be ural society, and says (" if there is 81
o word which distinctly represents idea, to ex- v
ress which nevertheless consider of much i'm n
0rance, must necessarily be made we N
avishly subject the mind to the language the object L.
the means. The wcrd legal it will once be
zen, signifies something entirely different from iuraL
lral relations exist before and without laws.'' OF
This authority certainly justifes in the coming
such words lynch, humbug, gerrynander 1t
nd gaphinisnp, well as in the of such com hi
nations softSolder and degrading applied o
legislative proceedings, for The English langua ge
ontains word which exactly conveys the idea we Gle
ish to express when we them; they would all "a
quire sentence to explain their meaning; and we CHI
, doubt they will III of them eventually find