Maud, German, dim. form of Matilda, q. v.

May, Latin, month of May, or dim. of
Mary, q. v.

Mercy, English, compassion.
Mildred, Saxon, speaking mild.
Minnie, dim. of Margaret, q. v.
Naomi, Hebrew, alluring.
Nest, British, the same as Agnes.
Nicola, Greek, feminine of Nicholas.
Olive, Olivia, Latin, an olive.
Olympia, Greek, heavenly.
Ophelia, Greek, a serpent.

Parnell, or Petronilla, little Peter.
Patience, Latin, bearing patiently.
Paulina, Latin, feminine of Paulinus.
Penelope, Greek, a weaver.
Persis, Greek, destroying.
Philadelphia, Greek, brotherly love.
Philippa, Greek, feminine of Philip..

Salome, Hebrew, perfect.

Sapphira, Greek, like a sapphire

stone.

Sarah, Hebrew, a princess.

Selina, Greek, the moon.

Sibylla, Greek, the counsel of God.
Sophia, Greek, wisdom.

Sophronia, Greek, of a sound mind.
Susan, Susanna, Hebrew, a lily.
Tabitha, Syriac, a roe.
Temperance, Latin, moderation.
Theodosia, Greek, given by God.
Tryphena, Greck, delicate.
Tryphosa, Greek, delicious.
Victoria, Latin, victory.
Vida, Erse, feminine of David.
Ursula, Latin, a she bear.
Walburga, Saxon, gracious.
Winifred, Saxon, winning peace.
Zenobia, Greek, life from Jupiter.

MISUSE OF WORDS.

A and An. A is used before all words beginning with consonants except those beginning with silent H, or when the word beginning with H is accented on some other syllable than the first. An is to be used before all vowel sounds, silent H, and when the words beginning with H are accented on some other syllable than the

first.

Ability (for capacity). Capacity is the power of receiving and retaining knowledge with facility. Ability is the power of applying knowledge to practical pur

poses.

Abortive (for unsuccessful). A plan may be abortive, but an act cannot.

Acceptance (for acceptation). "No word is more vague in its general acceptance," should be "in its acceptation."

Accident (for wound). "Witch hazel cures accidents."

Accredit (for credit). Few, except very bad writers, employ it as a robust substitute for credit or believe. Administer (for deal). "The blows were administered [dealt] by Policeman Johnson."

Admire (for desire). It is an error to follow this verb with an infinitive, as "I admire to see a man consistent." Doubly wrong, therefore, is the expression, "I should admire to go with you."

Aggravate (for irritate, worry, annoy). "There would be no danger in aggravating Violet by this expression of pity." Better irritating."

Agriculturalist (for agriculturist). The first is

never correct.

Ain't. The only legitimate contraction of I am not is I'm not.

Allow (for say, assert, express opinion). We may allow or admit that which we have disputed, but of which we have been convinced; or we may allow certain premises as the basis of argument; but we assert, not allow, our own opinions.

Allude (for say or mention). Allude (from ludo, ludere, to play) means to indicate jocosely, to hint at playfully; and so to hint at in a slight, passing manner. Allusion is the byplay of language.

Smith." And for to is a frequent misuse. "Try to do it," not "try and do it."

Anyways (for anyway). This is a frequent misuse. Anywheres (for anywhere). Belongs to the class of words frequently misused.

Apprehend (for comprehend). Apprehend denotes the laying hold of a thing mentally, so as to understand it clearly, at least in part. Comprehend denotes the embracing or understanding it in all its compass and extent. We may apprehend many truths which we do not comprehend.

As (for that). "I don't know as [that] I can go." Assurance (for fire Insurance). Webster and Worces ter agree that this word is limited to life insurance. At (for by). "I bought it at auction" is correct English, but " It is to be sold at auction" is American only. At all. A needless expletive, as “I did not like the play at all."

Avocation (for vocation). Vocation is one's pursuit, employment, business; avocation refers to incidental or pleasure pursuits.

Acoustios takes a singular verb. Names of sciences, such as mathematics, economics, politics, physics, gymnastics, etc., are now regarded as singular in number. Awful (for very or for ugly). The crowd present was awfully boisterous."

Bad. "I feel bad," not "I feel badly."

Balance (for rest, remainder). Balance refers to the ledger account, and does not properly convey the same meaning as remainder.

Banquet (for dinner, supper). A banquet is a public. sumptuous feast.

Beau, a word used by the uneducated instead of escort.

Been to (for been). "Where have you been to?" Between (for among). Between is only for two-by and twain. Carefully avoid such expressions as " Between every stitch."

Blame it on (for accuse). A common vulgarism. Bountiful (for plentiful). Bountiful applies to persons, not to things, and has no reference to quantity. Bourn (for place, instead of boundary). Frequently misused.

Bravery (for courage). Bravery is inborn, instinetive. Courage is the product of reason, calculation. Men who are simply brave are careless, while the courageous man is always cautious.

Alternately (for by turns). This word should be used only in speaking of two objects or classes of objects. Whately rightly defines alternative as a choice between two objects.

Amateur (for novice). A professional actor who is new and unskilled in his art is a novice, and not an amateur. An amateur may be an artist of great experience and extraordinary skill.

Among (for between, when speaking of two). Gould says it should not be written amongst, but Worcester and Webster give both forms.

And. The commonest case in which it is violated is where and introduces a relative clause, no relative having occurred before, as “I have a book printed at Antwerp, and which was once possessed by Adam

Bring (for fetch). Bring expresses motion toward, not away. A boy is properly told to take his books to

his helper, "Go and bring me yonder rake," but he might better say, "Fetch me yonder rake." Bound (for determined). He is bound to go West." Bursted (for burst). "The pipes bursted during the cold weather.' But (for that or if). come to-night.'

But that (for that). was the case.'

"I have no doubt but he will "I should not wonder but that

By (for upon). "By [upon] returning it to this office the finder will be rewarded." Calculate (for expect). "I calculate [expect] to go to-morrow.

Can (for may). The boy says, "Can I go down street?" when he means "May I?" It is a question not of possibility but of permission.

Caption (for heading). Not sanctioned by good writers.

Casket (for coffin). A newspaper writer facetiously intimated that a man in a casket is not quite so dead as a man in a coffin.

Citizen (for person). A citizen is a person who has certain political rights. To say "Several citizens carried the victims of the accident into a shop," would be as absurd as to say, "several church members." Come (for go)." "I am coming to pay you a visit." Coming is right.

Commence to (for begin). Omit to. We begin to write. We commence writing.

Compulsion (for obligation). The former is a physical, the latter a moral, necessity.

Execute does not mean to put to death. The law is executed when the criminal is hanged or imprisoned. Expect (for suppose). Expect refers only to that which is to come, and which, therefore, is looked for. We cannot expect backward.

Female (for woman). A vulgar misuse of English. From out (for from). "From out the castle." Farther, further. Farther properly signifies distance, further degree or quantity. As he walked farther he saw they were further along with the work." Future (for subsequent). "Her future life was virtuous and fortunate.'

First two. Often written and spoken, two first. Gent and pants. "Let these words go together, like the things they signify. The one always wears the

ers construe.

Consummate (for perform). "The marriage was consummated [performed] at Paris, last April."

Contemptible (for contemptuous). "To a gentleman who, at the close of a fierce dispute with Porson, exclaimed, 'My opinion of you is most comtemptible, sir,' he retorted, I never knew an opinion of yours that was not contemptible.""

Continual (for continuous). A continuous action is one which is uninterrupted; continual is that which is constantly renewed and recurring, though it may be interrupted as frequently as it is renewed."

Continue on is often erroneously used for continue. Corporeal, frequently misused for corporal, especially of punishment.

Cortege (for procession). A cortege is a procession, but every procession is not a cortege.

Credible (for credulous). "He is very credible [credulous]."

Creditable (for credible). "I am creditably [credi bly] informed."

Dead and buried, dead and gone, and similar expressions are to be deprecated. Those who have died have usually been buried, and they are also gone.

Dearest. "A gentleman once began a letter to his bride, thus: My dearest Maria.' The wife replied: My dear John, I beg that you will mend either your morals or your grammar. You call me your "dearest Maria"; am I then to understand that you have other Marias?""

Deduction (for induction). Induction is the mental process by which we ascend to the delivery of special truths; deduction is the process by which the law governing particulars is derived from a knowledge of the law governing the class to which particulars belong. Demoralized (for scared). "The horse, in addition to losing all the hair on his tail, became considerably demoralized."

Departure. To take one's departure is a corruption of the accurate form, "to take one's leave."

Differ with, in opinion; differ from, in appear

ance.

Die with (for die of). A man dies of smallpox, not with smallpox.

Dock (for wharf or pier). A dock is an open place without a roof, into which anything is received, and where it is inclosed for safety. The shipping around a city lies at wharfs and piers, but goes into docks. Done should be used only with has, had, or have; frequently misused for did.

Don't (for doesn't). Don't is the contraction for do not; doesn't the contraction for does not.

Doubt but (for doubt). "I have no doubt but that it is so."

Each and every (often followed by a plural verb). "When I consider how each of these professions are [is] crowded."

Emblem (for motto, sentiment). The figure is the emblem; not the accompanying motto.

Enthuse (for inspirit). This word is not sanctioned by good usage.

Epithet (as necessarily decrying). Is usually and erroneously applied to derogative adjectives.

Equally as well (for equally well). "He plays equally as well [equally well]."

Every once in a while is an absurd and meaningless expression.

Every (for entire or all). "Rendered them every assistance," is absurdly wrong. Every is separated, and can be applied only to a whole composed of many individuals. It is always singular in number.

Gentleman, lady (for man, woman). The most important rule to observe is that where adjectives are gentleman, or a lovely lady; but a polite man, a fovely woman.

Girl (for daughter). A father, on being requested by a rich and vulgar fellow for permission to marry "one of his girls," gave this rather crushing reply: "Certainly. Which one would you prefer the waitress or the cook?"

Graduated (for was graduated). Students do not graduate, but are graduated. "I graduated [was graduated] in 1876."

Great, big. Frequently used for large. Gums (for overshoes). "Emily is outside, cleaning her gums upon the mat." Get signifies possession obtained by exertion. has [not has got] red hair."

"He

Had ought (for ought). “You had ought to have been with me."

Haven't no. Omit no. Do not use two words meaning no in the same sentence.

Healthy, healthful, wholesome. Healthy refers to living things. "The man is healthy." "The food is wholesome." "The surroundings are wholesome."

Is (for are). "Their general scope and tendency is [are] not remembered at all."

It is I (not me). It is he (not him). It is she (not her).

Jewelry (for particular jewels). Its use in the latter sense is always to be preferred. Think of Cornelia pointing to the Gracchi, "These are my jewelry.” Kids for kid gloves). Colloquial and should not be used.

Last (for latest). "I have received your latest [not last] letter."

Lay (for lie). Remember that lay expresses transitive action, and lie means rest. We lay the book on the table and the book lies where we have placed it.

Learn (for teach). Learn means to acquire knowledge; teach, to impart it. This use of learn is found in respectable writers, but is now deemed improper, as well as inelegant.

Leave (without an object). "Anna Louise Carey will leave the stage," announces an exchange. "Thanks, Annie; we were afraid you would take the stage with you. So kind to leave it," rejoins the critic. Leave (for let). "Leave [let] me be." Let's (for let). "Well, farmer, let's you and I go by ourselves."

Liable. Frequently misused for likely.

Lit (for lighted). Much censured as an Americanism. Look (followed by an adverb). "Miss Marlowe looked charmingly." Just as correct to say "Miss Marlowe looked gladly, or madly, or sadly, or delightedly."

Loan (for lend). The former word is a noun, the verbal form of which is to lend.

Mutual (for common). It should always convey a sense of reciprocity.

Nice is now applied to a sermon, to a jam-tart, to a young man, in short, to everything. The word should be used with extreme caution.

Nor (for than, after comparative). bushel."

"Better nor fifty

Notion (for inclination). “I have a notion to go." Of course incorrect.

None is etymologically singular. "None but the brave deserves the fair," wrote Dryden.

Off of (for off). "A yard off of the cloth."

Over his signature (for under his signature). A letter is issued under or by the authority of the writer's signature.

Particle (for at all). As "not a particle," for "not at all."