Evening star., 1938-06-21

new words are floating around. Not
exactly new ones, but new to q goodly
proportion of newspaper readers.
They may not be quite startling
enough to impel the reader to look
them up. and yet, generally, he is q
bit vague as to their precise definition
They are found largely in editorial
columns and in the writings Of
columnists who discuss special sub
jects-political, economic, scientific
and sociological.
theology is favorite these days.
So is modality, along with pragmatic,
recidivism, contumacious, irredentiSt,
exotic, polemic, cacophony, pruriency,
centripetal, doyen, purlieu and out
rance (there is honey. Every one
can make up similar, although not
identical list, but these are fair SAM
piles.
One well-known humorous column
ist has taken fall out of his more
serious brethren by describing one
OF the above list as used by the intel
ligentsia to confuse the bourgeoise"
and, indeed. there seems to be a good
deal of truth in what he says. Some
of these multi-syllable contraptions
appear to be necessary, in that there
is no precise synonym for them. but
the choice Of others seems occasionally
to imply little intellectual high
hating"
One well-known newspaper pub
Usher has expressed the firm thought
that there should be in no editorial
any word which makes it necessary
for the readers of average intelligence
and schooling to consult dictionary
either during or after the perusal of
the contribution in question. Many
will agree that he has something there
Some Words Defined.
1t is suggested that just for the fun
OF it, the reader take the above sample
list and see how many meanings, not
precise or alternative, but just general
meanings. he is sure of. Space pre-
cludes printing all the definitions in
full and with their variations: a good
dictionary is needed for that, but
hereunder are set down what appear
to be. roughly and sketchily perhaps,
the general ideas.
Pragmatic. That is a hard one to
get a good grip on. 1t can mean
ofhcious, or opinionated. or practical
or matter Of fact. Perhaps a better
meaning is dealing with events so
as to show their interconnection.
Recidivist means, generally. a re-
lapse into bad ways. especially after
punishment A recidivist is a con-
flrmed criminal
ContumaciouS may be taken to
mean rebellious or stubbornly dis
obedient. The present occupant of
the White House recently brought it
into the limelight.
1rredentists this comes from Italian
policies and a political party want
back their lost country or territory.
1deology is a tough egg. It may
mean the formation of impractical
theories. but perhaps the best mean
ing is the science that treats of the
history and evolution Of human ideas
1t has been said that it is just fancy
name for ones belief in a thing. Bet
ter go more deeply into this one.
Exotic Means Foreign.
Exotic is easy, although many tumble
it. Its meaning is, literally and es-
sentialy, foreign; brought in from or
pertaining to regions abroad. It
means that and nothing else; there
fore anything strictly American, no
matter how unusual or intriguing,
cannot be exotic. It has nothing to
do with erotic, or languishing, or en-
trancing.
Polemic implies an aggressive at
tack on or aggressive refutation of
another's opinion or doctrine; dis
putatious; controversial; even bitter.
Cacophony is easy; opposite of har-
mony; harsh letters and syllables in
speech or writing; discord in music or
other sounds.
Pruriency is literally itching. It's
general meaning is an itching to pry
into or emphasize unpleasant and
particularly lewd, lascivious and NOR