Practical Exercises in English Part 28

63. Presently it ----d that Henry Roscoe was the obstinate juryman.

64. Many things have ----d since the war was ended.

III. ADDITIONAL MISUSED VERBS.[101]

ACCEPT, EXCEPT.--_To accept_ means "to take something offered;" _to except_ means "to make an exception of."

ADVERTISE, ADVISE.--_To advertise_ is "to announce to the public" _to advise_ is "to give counsel or information to a person."

AFFECT, EFFECT.--_To affect_ is "to act upon," "to influence;" _to effect_ is "to bring about."

ALLEVIATE, RELIEVE.--_To alleviate_ pain is "to lighten" it; _to relieve_ it is to go further, and "to remove it in a large measure or altogether."

ALLOW, ADMIT, THINK.--_Allow_ properly means to "grant" or "permit,"

not to "admit," "think" or "intend."

ALLUDE TO, REFER TO, MENTION.--We _mention_ a thing when we name it directly. We _refer_ to it when we speak of it less directly. We _allude_ to it when we refer to it in a delicate or slight way.

ARGUE, AUGUR.--_To argue_ is "to bring forward reasons;" _to augur_ is "to foretell," "to forebode."

COMPARE WITH, COMPARE TO, CONTRAST.--"Two things are _compared_ in order to note the points of resemblance and difference between them; they are _contrasted_ in order to note the points of difference only. When one thing is _compared to_ another, it is to show that the first is like the second; when one thing is _compared with_ another, it is to show either difference or similarity, especially difference."[102]

CONSTRUE, CONSTRUCT.--"_To construe_ means 'to interpret,' 'to show the meaning;' _to construct_ means 'to build;' we may _construe_ a sentence as in translation, or _construct_ it as in composition."[103]

CONVINCE, CONVICT.--"_To convince_ is 'to satisfy the understanding;'

_to convict_, 'to p.r.o.nounce guilty.' 'The jury having been _convinced_ of the prisoner's guilt, he was _convicted_.'"

DETECT, DISCRIMINATE.--_To detect_ is "to find out;" _to discriminate_ is "to distinguish between."

DISCLOSE, DISCOVER.--To _disclose_ is "to uncover," "to reveal;" _to discover_ is, in modern usage, "to find."

DOMINATE, DOMINEER.--_To dominate_ is "to rule;" _to domineer_ is "to rule in an overbearing manner."

DRIVE, RIDE.--We go _driving_ in carriages, _riding_ in saddles. We _drive_ behind horses, we _ride_ on them.

ELIMINATE, ELICIT.--_To eliminate_ is "to remove," "to get rid of;"

_to elicit_ is "to draw out."

ESTIMATE, ESTEEM.--_To estimate_ is "to judge the value of;" _to esteem_ is "to set a high value on," especially of persons.

EXPOSE, EXPOUND.--_To expose_ is "to lay bare to view;" _to expound_ is "to explain the meaning of."

FRIGHTEN.--_Frighten_ is a transitive verb, and is used correctly in "The locomotive _frightened_ the horse;" "The horse _was frightened_ by the locomotive;" "The horse became _frightened_." It should not be used intransitively, as in the sentence "The _horse frightened_ at the locomotive."

INQUIRE, INVESTIGATE.--To _inquire_ is "to ask for information;" _to investigate_ is "to make a thorough examination."

INSURE, SECURE.--_Secure_, in the sense of "to guard from danger,"

"to make safe," is preferable to _insure_, since _insure_ also means "to guarantee indemnity for future loss or damage."

LET, LEAVE.--_Let_ means "to permit;" _leave_, "to let remain," or "to go away from."

LOCATE, FIND.--_Locate_ properly means "to place in a particular position," or "to designate the site of," as of a new building or purchased lands; it does not mean _to find_.

PERSUADE, ADVISE.--_To persuade_ is "to induce," "to convince;" _to advise_ is "to give counsel or information."

PREDICATE, PREDICT.--_To predicate_ is "to affirm as an attribute or quality;" _to predict_ is "to foretell."

PRESCRIBE, PROSCRIBE.--_To prescribe_ is "to lay down as a rule or a remedy;" _to proscribe_ is "to condemn to death or to loss of rights."

PURPOSE, PROPOSE.--"The verb _purpose_, in the sense of 'intend,' is preferable to _propose_, since _to propose_ also means 'to offer for consideration:' the noun answering to the former is _purpose_; to the latter, _proposal_ or _proposition_."[104]

REPULSE, REPEL.--_Repulse_ usually implies hostility; _repel_ is a milder term. We _repulse_ an enemy or an a.s.sailant; we _repel_ an officious person or the unwelcome advances of a lover.

START, BEGIN, COMMENCE.--To _start_ is "to set out" or "to set going," and is not followed by an infinitive. Before an infinitive, "begin" or "commence" is used. "_Begin_ is preferred in ordinary use; _commence_ has more formal a.s.sociations with law and procedure, combat, divine service, and ceremonial."[105]

SUSPECT, EXPECT, ANTIc.i.p.aTE.--_To suspect_ is "to mistrust," "to surmise." _Expect_, in the sense of "look forward to," is preferable to _antic.i.p.ate_, since _antic.i.p.ate_ also means "take up, perform, or realize beforehand;" as, "Some real lives do actually _antic.i.p.ate_ the happiness of heaven."

[100] In some of the sentences one verb or another is allowable, according to the meaning intended.

[101] "Foundations," p. 115.

[102] The Century Dictionary.

[103] A.S. Hill: Principles of Rhetoric, revised edition, p. 38.

[104] A.S. Hill: Principles of Rhetoric, revised edition, p. 19.

[105] Murray's Dictionary.

EXERCISE LIX.

_Tell the difference in meaning between_--

1. I _accept_ (_except_) him.

2. Telegraphic communication was _affected_ (_effected_).

3. The medicine _alleviated_ (_relieved_) her suffering.

4. He _alluded to_ (_referred to, mentioned_) the battle of Gettysburg.

5. The first sentence was not well _construed_ (_constructed_).

6. Mr. Fox was _convinced_ (_convicted_).

7. Blanche of Devon _disclosed_ (_discovered_) the treachery of Murdock.

8. We are going _riding_ (_driving_) this afternoon.

9. He _rides_ (_drives_) well.

10. I will _inquire about_ (_investigate_) the business methods of the building a.s.sociation.

11. The furniture has been _secured_ (_insured_).

12. _Let_ (_leave_) me alone.

13. He _advised_ (_persuaded_) me to have my life insured.

14. He _purposed_ (_proposed_) to divide the cla.s.s.

15. Did you _suspect_ (_expect_) us?

EXERCISE LX.

_Insert the proper word in each blank, and give the reason for your choice_:--[106]