True American. [volume] (Steubenville [Ohio]) 1855-1861, 1856-07-30
From the ChristainAdvocate and Journal.
Common ImproFisties in Speech

Common ImproFieties in Speech.
Mr.. EDITOR: Will you allow me to
point out, through our paper, some of
the more common md glarIng improprie-
ties in Language, whsh we hear from pub
lie speakers and no uhfrequen,ly see in
print! | now use he word improperly
in its rhetorical Import, as all Offense
against e,ymology r lexieography, the
using a word, that 5, in wrong sense.
| hope may no, beconsidered assuming
or arrogant in making 'hese suggestions.
Those who need them may perhaps
thank me for them; he many who do
not, may tolerate them for the sake Of
those who do.
lis no, my design % account for this
wrong use of words. My object is prac-
tical, rather than philosophical or scien-
ti6c, and | therefor proceed at once TO
the specifications.
Paraphsrnalia ia an instance in point.
This word is uf Hrecian origin, from
para above or over. and pherO, | bring.
1t is a law term apped to clothing, jew
els, ornaments, ETC., which, besides her
dover, a wife brings to her husband at
her marriage. Accou ouing to Blackstone,
i, is a law term siEniiying "over and
above her dover.
II ia now freouAtiv used in the sense
of appendages, ira plugs. etc. But this
is contrary to the rignal import Of the
word, and is withdt adequate warrant
, True, Webster. afE giving the proper
definition, adds. in be second place, "Or
, nsments, appendass, trappings." But
this no more justiit the use Of it in this
sense than the inelion of certain w lgar.
isms or provinciisms as tote, chore
: for instance, maks them pure and Eng
E lish. Johnson de nes It, "goodS in ;
0 wife's disposal"
.abeyAce is ais a law term. 1t zig
ni6es law not enlrced law in a sta.'
a Of suspension, butiable to be applied o.
y put in force whenyer suitable occasion
d shall arse. Thus &" the fee simple Of al
s estate is in abeyafe when there is NJ
!. person iu whom itan vest, YET is read.
If to be vested WHIP legitimate owne
t. shall appear" he word is often use'
/, improperly to sigify suspension in gen
/. eral, or perhaps asecret or concealed rea
c son, and sometimes state Of torpor o
subjection, as q Q KEEP. his feelings i
abe, ance." ThI occasional use OF sh
t, word improperly even by good writer
% does not aulhGie 'r justify such use.
k. Devslop AMI il derivative are ofteI
a. misapplied. ~ dvelop is the opposi'
- of to envelop. epANas this signifies
n. "coyer by wrapping to enlold," so til
other signifies toppcsver by unwrappint
n. to open aud expos to view. This is il
generic and propr meaning If theI
70 the idea intentedto be conveyed is aui
ed mentalion, multiplication, or invigoralieI
Mt development is not the proie wor
The above EXPLANATION sufficiently show
ir. the true impot Of such expressions
ut, "men.al develoment," developeme
0. Of the resources II the Church, Of Il
10. country, etc. lie expressions are vel
be appropriate who used 10 express the u
he folding and bringing into notice what e
lss lists, but are quite inappropriate, if it
IN. designed to expos any thing else. "
IT, can not develop Nhat is no. there.
- Truthful, and the abstract truthf
ness, have le,eItly come into vogl
ng They are not foiId in Johnson, nor
&c photographer rir to Webster. Ric
IRE ardson, indeed, gives the adjective, t
re- cites no authority for it. We think ,
,rd words snperdousj but il persons will U
them properly. The afix "fuiI' we s,
rly pose is only usel b intensity the quail
ON Of truth ; but inths sense can only apI
nc. to moral agents. like veracious, or v
,ch aci,y. We maysay Of a book or n
Ar. rative that it istrue but truthful belor
oy, 10 the author OF rtlator. There NAV
ay occasion To inun,ify the expression.
.ru b or veracitj in a person, M,
: agent; it is supeIauous when the obj
ast is q ing.
e.. Prestige is nj new word, but il
ON recently come Ito common use.
s properly a FretSh word derived from
eu- Latin praestigis. I,s strict Import