FullReads

Created for First Performed. Stage slang. “Burbage created the part of Hamlet.” What was it that its author did to it?

Critically for Seriously. “He has long been critically ill.” A patient is critically ill only at the crisis of his disease.

Criticise for Condemn, or Disparage. Criticism is not necessarily censorious; it may approve.

Cunning for Amusing. Usually said of a child, or pet. This is pure Americanese, as is its synonym, “cute.”

Curious for Odd, or Singular. To be curious is to have an inquiring mind, or mood–curiosity.

Custom for Habit. Communities have customs; individuals, habits–commonly bad ones.

Decease for Die.

Decidedly for Very, or Certainly. “It is decidedly cold.”

Declared for Said. To a newspaper reporter no one seems ever to say anything; all “declare.” Like “alleged” (which see) the word is tiresome exceedingly.

Defalcation for Default. A defalcation is a cutting off, a subtraction; a default is a failure in duty.

Definitely for Definitively. “It was definitely decided.” Definitely means precisely, with exactness; definitively means finally, conclusively.

Deliver. “He delivered an oration,” or “delivered a lecture.” Say, He made an oration, or gave a lecture.

Demean for Debase or Degrade. “He demeaned himself by accepting charity.” The word relates, not to meanness, but to demeanor, conduct, behavior. One may demean oneself with dignity and credit.

Demise for Death. Usually said of a person of note. Demise means the lapse, as by death, of some authority, distinction or privilege, which passes to another than the one that held it; as the demise of the Crown.

Democracy for Democratic Party. One could as properly call the Christian Church “the Christianity.”

Depot for Station. “Railroad depot.” A depot is a place of deposit; as, a depot of supply for an army.

Deprivation for Privation. “The mendicant showed the effects of deprivation.” Deprivation refers to the act of depriving, taking away from; privation is the state of destitution, of not having.

Dilapidated for Ruined. Said of a building, or other structure. But the word is from the Latin lapis, a stone, and cannot properly be used of any but a stone structure.

Directly for Immediately. “I will come directly” means that I will come by the most direct route.

Dirt for Earth, Soil, or Gravel. A most disagreeable Americanism, discredited by general (and Presidential) use. “Make the dirt fly.” Dirt means filth.

Distinctly for Distinctively. “The custom is distinctly Oriental.” Distinctly is plainly; distinctively, in a way to distinguish one thing from others.

Donate for Give. Good American, but not good English.

Doubtlessly. A doubly adverbial form, like “illy.”

Dress for Gown. Not so common as it was a few years ago. Dress means the entire costume.

Each Other for One Another. “The three looked at each other.” That is, each looked at the other. But there were more than one other; so we should say they looked at one another, which means that each looked at another. Of two, say each other; of more than two, one another.

Edify for Please, or Entertain. Edify means to build; it has, therefore, the sense of uplift, improvement–usually moral, or spiritual.

Electrocution. To one having even an elementary knowledge of Latin grammar this word is no less than disgusting, and the thing meant by it is felt to be altogether too good for the word’s inventor.

Empty for Vacant. Say, an empty bottle; but, a vacant house.

Employe. Good French, but bad English. Say, employee.

Endorse for Approve. To endorse is to write upon the back of, or to sign the promissory note of another. It is a commercial word, having insufficient dignity for literary use. You may endorse a check, but you approve a policy, or statement.

Endways. A corruption of endwise.

Entitled for Authorized, Privileged. “The man is not entitled to draw rations.” Say, entitled to rations. Entitled is not to be followed by an infinitive.

Episode for Occurrence, Event, etc. Properly, an episode is a narrative that is a subordinate part of another narrative. An occurrence considered by itself is not an episode.

Equally as for Equally. “This is equally as good.” Omit as. “He was of the same age, and equally as tall.” Say, equally tall.