The Indianapolis journal., 1901-12-10
SOME OF THE new BOOKS
webster's international Dictionary.

W Nebster's international Dictionary.
a new edition of this standard and indis-
pensable work has just been issued by the
publishers, George Merriam Company,
OF Springfield, Mass. The latest edi-
tion previous To this was published
in 1880, but the rapid growth OF the Ian
guage necessitates frequent revision and
emendation of a book which serves a vast
number Of persons a guide to the Eng
lish tongue and which undertakes to be
thorough and complete. 1t has been found
by the editors that no less than $500 words
have become such fixed part of the vocab-
ulary since the preparation of the edition of
1888 that they properly belong in the pages
of the new work Accordingly supple
ment containing this number has been add
ed to the book. 1t seems a tremendous
growth for short period, but even
casual glance over the new pages shows the
character and sources of the additional
vocabulary and fully accounts for them.
The great majority are of scientific origin.
Botany, astronomy, meteorology, geology
and chemistry have each added many
terms. Medicine is responsible for long
list, electricity for another mechanics and
engineering for another. and so they go
he crowded columns are a striking testl-
mOny 10 the rapid progress and develop
Inent In all the arts and sciences. A great
number or these words are so tecnnlcal as
to be beyond the ordinary comprehension,
but the popularization of science in all its
forms and the adaptation of many seientlnc
discoveries TO practical use has, on the
other hand. made another large proportion
of them part of the common speech Even
those not now familiar may become so at
any time. and words which now convey lit
tie or no meaning except to experts IN
special line may by reason OF application
TO new invention or appliance be ineor-
porated in everyday speech. But there are
other causes than the energy or scientists
for the expansion of the current vocabu-
larry. The Spanish-American war brought
some new ones TO the front, as moro,
castle or fortiication. There Is ''moros, or
Philippine origin, and ''mOho," a Hawaiian
bird. The South African war brought
commando" 'Veldt" and other unfamiliar
terms into common use. Flu" meaning
place. Golf, having been Americanized,
has brought all its queer Scotch lingo along
tor adoption, and this has been incorpOr-
ated in the dictionary. Fashion does
its share, ''Tuxedo-coat," for instance, be-
ing given recognition. There is the word
rookie, " defined. as soldiers slang from
kipling; dope" expressive word. is at
last dgnified with place among respecta-
BILE associates The word "age," used I'm
the game of poker, creeps in. Among old
words with new meaning Is veteran" used
in forestry TO signify a tree over two feet
in diameter. The verb Ito spell, signify
ing TO supply place for time, is curious
ly enough, set down as an Australasian
cOlloquialism. 1t is common Americanism.
Who has not heard the expression, spell
me for an hour" meaning. ''act nay sub
Sutute, do my work? ''MorTls-c hair
finds a place among the 5000 new words.
it is comparatively so short a time since
that now familiar piece of furniture was
designed by the late William Morris. in
the course of his efforts to bring simple,
yet artistic, household furnishings into use.
that ii would seem that no well-informed
person, least of all a word student, could
fail To associate his identity with the name;
yet. transitery is fame. it is said by the
photographer to be probably so-called
from the proper name, 'M0rrisp
y dictionary is always fascinating work
and TO have all the newer words TO them
selves affords an especial chance for one
who likes to delve into such columns. The
elastic character of the language is well
demonstrated by this bulky addition. The
new edition has been prepared under the
special editorial supervision of w. T. Har-
ris, United States commissioner Of eduea-
ton. He has been aided by specialists in
the several technical lines and accuracy
may, therefore, be regarded as assured.