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DERIVATIONS OF "NEWS."

It is not declared with what motive "Mr. GUTCH" (No. 17. p. 270.) has
laid before the readers of "NOTES AND QUERIES" the alleged derivation
of N.E.W.S.

It must therefore be supposed, that his object was to have its
justness and probability commented upon; and it is quite time that
they should be so, since the derivation in question has of late become
quite a favourite authoritative dictum with etymology compilers.
Thus it may be found, in the very words and form adopted by your
correspondent, in Haydn's _Dictionary of Dates_, and in other
authorities of equal weight.

This sort of initial-letter derivation was probably brought into
fashion in England by the alleged origin of "Cabal," or, perhaps, by
the many guesses at the much disputed word "Æra." I shall take the
liberty of quoting a few sentences with reference to such etymologies,
_as a class_, which I find in an unpublished manuscript upon a kindred
subject.

"Besides, such a splitting up of a word of significant and
perfect meaning in itself is always a bad and suspicious mode
of derivation.

"It is generally an after-thought, suggested by some
fortuitous or fancied coincidence, that appropriateness of