Notes and Queries, Number 21, March 23, 1850 by Various
page 12 of 69 (17%)
page 12 of 69 (17%)
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the Athenæum, Durham, before the Teachers' Society of the North
of England, by W. Finley, Graduate of the University of France. The following passage well expresses a caution that should be always kept in mind by the literary archæologist: "In the orthography of English words derived from the Latin, _one great and leading principle_ must be kept in view. If the word is of new adoption, it is certain that its spelling will be like that which appears in the original word; or if it has come to us through the French, the spelling will be conformable to the word in that language; thus, persecution from _persequor_, pursue from _poursuivre_. Again, flourish from _fleurir_, efforescent, florid, &c., from _floreo_. And to establish our orthography on certain grounds, it ought to be the business of the lexicographer to determine the date of the first appearance of an adopted word, and thus satisfactorily determine its spelling." (_Lecture_, p. 20. footnote.) D.V.S. Home, March 2. * * * * * ERRORS IN POPE'S HOMER'S ODYSSEY. In all the editions I have seen of this translation, the following very palpable errors exist, which I do not remember to have seen |
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