Practical Exercises in English Part 36

HEALTHY, HEALTHFUL, WHOLESOME.--That is _healthy_ which is in good health; that is _healthful_ or _wholesome_ which produces health.

_Wholesome_ commonly applies to food.

HUMAN, HUMANE.--_Human_ denotes what pertains to man as man; as, "_human_ nature," "_human_ sacrifices." _Humane_ means "compa.s.sionate."

LATEST, LAST.--_Latest_, like the word "late," contains a distinct reference to time; that is _latest_ which comes after all others in time: as, "The _latest_ news;" "The _latest_ fas.h.i.+on." _Last_, which was originally a contraction of "latest," is now used without any distinct reference to time, and denotes that which comes after all others in s.p.a.ce or in a series: as, "The _last_ house on the street;" "The _Last_ of the Mohicans."

LENGTHY, LONG.--_Lengthy_ is said to have originated in the United States, but the earliest quotations found are from British authors. In the introduction to the second series of The Biglow Papers, Mr. Lowell wrote: "We have given back to England the excellent adjective _lengthy_ ... thus enabling their journalists to characterize our President's messages by a word civilly compromising between _long_ and _tedious_, so as not to endanger the peace of the two countries by wounding our national sensitiveness to British criticism." _Lengthy_ is used chiefly of discourses or writings, and implies tediousness. _Long_ is used of anything that has length.

MAD, ANGRY.--_Mad_ means "insane;" in the sense of "angry" it is not in good use.

NEW, NOVEL.--That is _new_ which is not old; that is _novel_ which is both new and strange.

ORAL, VERBAL.--"_Oral_, in the sense of 'in spoken words,' is preferable to _verbal_, since _verbal_ means 'in words' whether spoken or written."[126]

PITIABLE, PITIFUL.--"_Pitiable,_ in the sense of 'deserving pity,' is preferable to _pitiful,_ since _pitiful_ also means 'compa.s.sionate,' as, 'The Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.'"[126]

PRACTICABLE, PRACTICAL.--That is _practicable_ which can be done; that is _practical_ which is not theoretical only: as, "a _practicable_ plan," "a _practical_ electrician."

PROMINENT, EMINENT.--_Prominent_ means "conspicuous," "standing out so as to be easily seen;" _eminent_ means "distinguished in character or rank."

REAL, REALLY, VERY.--_Real_ is properly an adjective, meaning "not imaginary or counterfeit," as, "_real_ diamonds." Its misuse for the adverbs _really_ and _very_, as, "This is _real_ pretty," is a vulgarism.

SCARED, AFRAID.--The participle _scared_ means "frightened;" _afraid_ is an adjective meaning "in fear." Before "of," the proper word is _afraid_: as, "She is _afraid_ of horses." _Scared of_ is not in good use.

GRAND, GORGEOUS, AWFUL, SPLENDID, ELEGANT, LOVELY, MAGNIFICENT.--_Grand_ properly implies "grandeur;" _gorgeous_, "splendid colors;" _awful_, "awe;" _elegant_, "elegance;" _splendid_, "splendor;" _lovely,_ "surpa.s.sing loveliness;" _magnificent_, "magnificence."

"We talk, sometimes, with people whose conversation would lead you to suppose that they had lived in a museum, where all the objects were monsters and extremes.... They use the superlative of grammar: 'most perfect,' 'most exquisite,' 'most horrible.' Like the French, they are enchanted, they are desolate, because you have got or have not got a shoestring or a wafer you happen to want--not perceiving that superlatives are diminutives and weaken.... All this comes of poverty. We are unskilful definers. From want of skill to convey quality, we hope to move admiration by quant.i.ty. Language should aim to describe the fact.... 'Tis very wearisome, this straining talk, these experiences all exquisite, intense, and tremendous."[127]

[123] A.S. Hill: Principles of Rhetoric, revised edition, p. 39.

[124] Ibid., p. 18.

[125] Ibid., p. 38.

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

[127] R.W. Emerson; The Superlative.

EXERCISE LXXII.

_Tell the difference in meaning between_--

1. The average (ordinary) yield of wheat.

2. He is bound (determined) to come.

3. There was continual (continuous) fighting for three days.

4. It was deadly (deathly) cold in the cave.

5. A decided (decisive) victory.

6. The boy is dumb (stupid).

7. His story is apparently (evidently, manifestly) true.

8. The existing (extant) portraits of Milton.

9. His actions were very funny (odd).

10. This is a healthy (wholesome) plant.

11. A human (humane) being.

12. His latest (last) attempt.

13. Long (lengthy) explanations.

14. She became mad (angry).

15. A new (novel) style.

16. An oral (verbal) message.

17. A pitiable (pitiful) man.

18. Your purpose seems practical (practicable).

19. A prominent (an eminent) man.

20. He was really (very) glad to see us.

EXERCISE LXXIII.

_Insert the proper word in each blank:--_

APPARENTLY, EVIDENTLY, MANIFESTLY.

1. The motion which--- belongs to the sun, really belongs to the earth.

2. The stranger was--- in the prime of manhood.

3. The _apparent (evident)_ discrepancy between the two narratives is not real.

4. Our country is--- growing in wealth.

5. A straight line is--- the shortest distance between two points.

AVERAGE, ORDINARY.

6. To be excited is not the--- state of the mind.

7. This picture has only--- merit.

8.--- conversation is not instructive.

9. The--- American is not wealthy.

10. The--- expenses per man of the Yale cla.s.s of '95 during Freshman year were $912.

11. The life of the--- man is safer and more comfortable than it was a century ago.

12. The--- age of the signers of the Declaration of Independence was nearly forty-four.

13. Their--- duties were easy.

BOUND, DETERMINED.

14. He worked hard at his piece, for he was--- to speak it well.

15. We have promised, therefore we are--- to go.

16. I am--- to win, if I can.

17. They were--- that they would see the end of the play, even though they should miss their train.

CONTINUAL, CONTINUOUS.

18. He was exposed to--- interruptions.

19. A--- line in s.p.a.ce.

20. ---- victory makes leaders insolent.

21. A ---- siege of six months.

22. The power of abstract study or of ---- thought is rare.

DEADLY, DEATHLY.

23. A ---- stillness.

24. The ---- bite of the rattlesnake.

25. My wound is ----.