The Catholic times. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1951-current, 1955-06-24


pounds of India paper with their halfmillion defin
itions Consider the fuIlness and richness of Ian
quage so abundantly equipped for the graceful,
accurate and diversified expression OF human
thought And then consider further that two or
three dozen of these halfmillion words are actually
used even among educated people, as the prop and
staff of every conversations that these few words
are shaded and twisted to fit wide variety Of
meanings
II is as odd business as your musing mind
can hit upon. with hundred suits of CLOTH
ing would hardly choose to make one old sweater
or one tie do service in every outfit. But the man
with wealth of words at command does actually
make use of certain favorite words in nearly every
sentence he utters Nor the so-ealled "auxihar-
les considered here,-the various forms Of have
do and be.
Take the little word get. Its three letters, in
present or past tense make the linguistic old sweat
er or tie that appear as part of some speakers
every c0stumed thought. Let US set down para.
graph full OF gets and oots, paragraph OF no
literary merit yet one that gives fairly the mode
of expression of many man with college degree.
David got to bed finally and got some rest.
Next morning he got up, got into his clothes, and
got going He got cup of coffee, and got out oi
the house in time TO get the 715 bus, which would
get him TO the office before 800. He got to his
desk on time, and got TO work on some papers that
he had got to get out before noon he got alarmed
when he the boss get angry with Martin
clerk who had got mixed in his billing and so
had got behind. David got over his fright and
even got chuckle out of the memory of 1t. He en-
ioyed recalling that he himself had got by that day
while steady old Martin got muddled and got
call-down Indeed David told the story every time
he got few people together and could get chance
to get the best effect out of telling it"
The word get has It's legitimate use and its
fulness. But the twenty-five gets and oots of the
last paragraph are surely not all TO be justified
And really not a single one of them is necessary
Let do the paragraph over without any aid what
ever from the verb to get
David finally went to bed and had some rest.
Next morning he rose, dressed and started his days
work. He drank cup Of coffee and was out of the
house in time for the IT'S bus which would bring
him to the office before 800 He was al his desk
on time, and started working some papers that
he was required to have ready before noon. He was
alarmed when he the boss grow angry with
Martin, clerk, who had mixed his billingwork and
so had fallen behind. David soon recovered from
his fright and even chuckled over the memory of
it, He enjoyed recalling that he had escaped censure
that day while steady old Martin grew confused and
received A reprimsnd. Indeed, David told the story
every time he found few people to listen to him.
ana mao the opportunity 10 tell II WIN Dest erect
Take the simple sentence | get it. Admitting
slang land who can exclude it from cooquiai use?)
that phrase of three words can have three distinct
meanings. II may mean, II attain acquire it,"
Il understand it," Il blamed or censured."
Or consider get in union with proposition ad-
verb. Look for instance, al the phrase, 10 pet
around. Here are its possible meanings-likely not
all of them:
/. To find time or opportunity: "Tl write when 1
get around TO it,"
2 To take places; Get around the table there and
look at this
3 To travel a lot "You gel around don't your"
4 To elude evade: "He can get around any
gument"
s. To be active or energetic: THE old man doesn't
get around we'll"
And the phrase to get along has nj least three
meanings to go forward TO prosper and 10 agree
or be compatible Get along little doges' John
will get along in this business" Frank and Harry
don't get along"
For a real itsny OF diversified uses consider
the phrase 10 get on Here some of them One
might make parorgame giveaway program
Of quest eOr others
l. To succeed Hell get on"
2 TO get aboard Get on the train"
3 To proceed. Get on with your story
4 Notice or observe: Get on to the iaywalker."
s. Don't bother me; Get with YOU"
g. To don: Get on your overeoat"
7 To be Of certain demeanor: Get your dig
nifty, your high horse etc"
& To discover you'll get to his tricks by and
bye"
q To grow accustomed skilled you'll soon get
on TO it,"
The phrase 10 GET may to forget,
II can't get over it," or TO surmount 0teray or
metaphorically). Get the fence; get over the
initial difficulties 10 move aside, Get over
there
And the expression pei np serves as noun IN
the phrase "He queer get up, he was IN
carnival get up Lately that noun phrase has come
TO mean carbonated drink, and there is a lifting
song about il on the radio. AS verb, get mp may
mean TO arise from bed TO stand up 10 ascend, to
arrange or plan and other things
Surely exneet nVermuch of that poor little