Some Misused Words.

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 661, 14 January 1933, Page 8

Some Misused Words.

WEEKLEY, a most interesting writer about words, has published another book, “ Words and Names,” which opens with a chapter on the influences that cause a word to pass from a proper noun, distinguished in English by a capital letter, to a common noun. Taking Guy, the baptismal name of the redoubtable Fawkes, he points out how, after a long succession of bonfire night celebrations, it has lost its big G and become a common noun, acquiring in the United States a special meaning. Diego, the Spanish equivalent for Jago and James, is now written with a small d in the form dago and is used as a nickname for a Southern European of the Latin race. And the abbreviated Reuben has become rube. There are almost innumerable instances of common nouns that have come from proper names. Among them are brussels sprouts and carpets, epsom salts, seidlitz powders, phaeton and tilbury (vehicles now passing out of use), bluchers, chesterfields and so on. On the other hand, the conversion of a common name into a proper noun has sometimes occurred, notably in Islam, an Arabic word for resignation, and Sikh, which is Punjabi for disciple. TOUCHSTONE. Pepys’ Diary. September 12th, 1667. While I was busy at the office, my wife *ends for me to come home, and what was it but to see the pretty girl which she is taking to wait upon her: and though she seems not altogether so great a beauty as she had before told me, yet indeed she is mighty pretty; and so pretty that I find I shall be too much pleased with it. She is to come next week. She seems by her discourse to be grave beyond her bigness and age, and exceeding well bred _ as to her deportment. To the office again, my head running on this pretty girl, and there till noon, when Creed and Sheres come and dined with me; and we had a great deal of pretty discourse of the ceremoniousness of the Spaniards, whose ceremonies are so many and so known.