Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-06-27

We take these instances from some notes on
language In the Boston Beacon: The word
"while" should never be used In the sense OF
| though" The sentence, awhile shall be glad
to meet him, yet cannot aid him." is not cor
rect. The word "while'' should be used as o
conjunction denoting time, in the sense OF "as
long as,'' or Sat the same time that"
sect9x nn,t e, used az an adyerb; means @per,
does not mean moderately WE'LL" but centre
ly Well" The expression 'quite q NUMBER in
the sense of "a large number is not legitimate;
means that she is very pretty, not moderately
,"Under his signature" has been largely dis.
change has been helped by the idea that under
means beneath. and the fact that signatures are
usually placed at the bottom Of letter. But
the word under is allied to the Latin inter,
between, and the expression "under his sigma
ture, Is as good as "under his hand and seal" or
unoer way, or perhaps, understand"
The word ovation is now used in the sense Of
shouting and cheering. But as Prot. E. A. Free
man, OF Oxford, points out, it has a strict and
definite meaning; it means the Thanksgiving
for victory which is not of the first import
ance, or which Is won by commander not of
In state to the capitol and sacrificed sheep,
while in the full triumph he was drawn in
then, means minor triumph, and should not
generals in command, or the highest In any
position.
John Ashtons admirable book, "Old Times"
contains the statement that In Queen Anne's
tllne no one but women used umbrellas, and
only those whose avocations compelled them
70 oe out, whatever the weather." Even Web
ster dictionary, which is not excessively accu-
rate, remarks ''that the use Of this word for vO-
cation Is very improper" and Skeat, who is
gooo In etymology, observes that the two words
should never have been confused. Vocation is
ones regular calling; avocation is a synonym
OF diversion, as the Latin aUocatio means the
ealing away of ones attention from regular
employment. It is a bankers vocation to ne
loans On tn hon knr linn &c 10
avOcatiOn.
"Rituaist" has assumed an entirely new
meaning. About twenty-five years ago it
ceremonies Accordingly it was legitimate to
SPEAK or Catholic, Jewish and Mo1lammedan
ntuallsts. To-day the word means Puseyite,
or an Ep1scopalian who attaches more impor-
.aice 70 rellgiOus vestments and ceremonies
than the Common Prayer Book seems to de-
mand.
The use of "around" for "round' is said to
nave originated In the southern states. Around
should not be used in expressions like "k 1o4r-
n"y Round the World with Gen. Gran t.."'iThe
equator goes around the earth; o traveller does
not.
American writers are more cautious than their
English brethren. Very few English writer's
SHRINK from the use of commence, when they
might just as we'll use the preferable word be-
gin. TO begin is an honest Teutonic word; to
commence is a bad Latin word which none OF
the Roman classics ever used.
A common phrase is ''all of u.s." or "all of
them" The expressions of US "of Them"
accordingly, the phrase ''all OF us, or '.all OF
them" should be abandoned.
10 nave one do something, means, as Mr..
Francis Boot points out in the Andover Re
ingly it is not correct to say,I am sorry to have
you 60"