THE ORIGIN OF WORDS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 7637, 21 February 1903, Page 4

THE ORIGIN OF WORDS.

* The etymologies which " The Century Dictionary and Oyclopeedin and Atlas " so clearly prenents aro full of interest. The history of English words is the history nob only of the English people, bub of the whole human race. It is full of romance and of humour. ifc is in itself one of the mosb delightful -branches of history, and it is certainly the most useful. The story of the origin of a word not only throws lighb Upon the use of the word, bub also adds a new daylight to the pleasure of leading. A comedy amuses us bacause of its succession of unexpected incidents } a witty simile, a droll association of ideas makes ua laugh, because we are delighted to find a surprise working under the commonplace things of life. The new jests, like the old, are only elaborate forms oi the Jaok-iri-the-box which makes the child laugh, because it appears with sc- quaint a Suddenness. And the history of words ii iUllxit surprises which afford solid instructicm as well as amusement. The whole story of the language is a story of change and development, and the study of ttese blinng^El is otte of the most profitable as Wdl -as one of the most agreeable pursuits to Which one's 1 leisure hours can be de-vc-ted. The tables of synonyms in "Hie Century" tii'e of great use to a class who would nev'ei? use a special dictionary of synonyms. The scrupulous Use of the best •possible word is, in most cases, a victory dyer the Writer's normal Indolence. And if the anere mechanical labour of consulting a special 'handbook ba added to the existing vires inef tife, thfe hexfc best word is mo.re than likely to survive the half-hearted attempt to rej)lace, ifc by the very bej§t. When dno has " The Century rt • afc hand, &ynbnyniß, quotations and all v the other toils of the wi'iter'B craft stand "marshalled •lillder' one al;-.habetisation, feady to render thei'l* Services'. 10 royal octavo volumes are a domplete, library for every man's Use— a I)lctl6nary, Oycidp'tedia and Atlas 6f the World. Ifc iniisfc be remembered, howeveif, that tlie present "Times " ottef olover 40 ptf cent dißcounb is not, lik<i ihfi pooi 1 , feiways with tie. Free ipfosdtt application^ ,