MISQUOTATION

rack-behind quotation by shifting the baseless fabric of a vision from some lines earlier into the place of another phrase that does not suit general use so well, though most people no doubt make it without knowing what they are doing, might reasonably enough be made knowingly, & is no offence. Examples of these two kinds are placed at the end of the list. But when a quotation comes from such a source as a well-known play of Shakspere, or Lycidas, or the Bible or Prayer Book, to give it wrongly at least requires excuse, & any great prevalence of such misquotation would prove us discreditably ignorant of our own literature. Nevertheless, such words as A poor thing, but my own, are often so much more used than the true form that their accuracy is sure to be taken for granted unless occasional attempts like the present are made to draw attention to them. In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread (not brow).

To gild refined gold, to paint the lily (not gild the lily).

Pride goeth before destruction, & an haughty spirit before a fall (not pride before a fall).

Screw your courage to the stickingplace (not point).

I will a round unvarnished tale deliver.

An ill-favoured thing, sir, but mine own (not poor).

Let not him that girdeth on his harness boast himself as he that putteth it off (not putteth on).

That last infirmity of noble mind (not minds).

Make assurance double sure (not doubly).

Tomorrow to fresh woods & pastures new (not fields).

The devil can cite Scripture for his purpose (not quote).

A goodly apple rotten at the heart (not core).

Chewing the food of sweet & bitter fancy (not cud).

I am escaped with the skin of my teeth (not by).

-M-, -MM

And, like this insubstantial pageant faded, Leave not a rack behind. Passing rich with forty pounds a year.

He that complies against his will Is of his own opinion still.

Fine by degrees & beautifully less. When Greeks joined Greeks, then was the tug of war.

Miss. The Misses Smith &c. is the old-fashioned plural, still used when formality is required, e.g. in printed lists of guests present &c,; elsewhere the Miss Smiths is now usual.

mis-shapen &c. The hyphen is usual in compounds of mis- with words beginning with s.

missile. Usually pronounced -il. missis. See MISTRESS.

missy. So spelt; see -EY, -IE, -Y. mistake makes -kable; see MUTE E. For the p.p. meanings in error &c., see INTRANSITIVE P.P.

mistaken makes -nness. mistral. See WIND, n.

mistress. The title Mrs is pronounced mi'siz; the noun missis (joc. or illit. for wife) is pronounced mi'sis.

mite makes mity; see -EY & -Y. mitigate makes gable, -tor; -ABLE 1, -OR.

see

mitrailleuse. See FRENCH WORDS. mitre, -ter. See -RE & -ER. mixed metaphor. See METAPHOR. miz(z)en. The OED treats mizen as the standard form.

:

-M-, -MM-. Monosyllables ending in m double it before suffixes beginning with a vowel if it is preceded by a single vowel (a, e, i, o, u, or y), but not if it is preceded by a diphthong or a doubled vowel or a vowel & r hammy, gemmed, dimmest, drummer; but claimant, gloomy, worming. Words of more than one syllable follow the rule for monosyllables if their last syllable is a word in composition, as bedimmed, overcramming, but otherwise do not double the m (bemadamed, bedlamite, balsamic, diademed, emblematic, pilgrimage, victimize, seldomer, venom

MOBILIZE

ous, unbosomed, blossoming, bottomed, buxomest, harmoniumist, vellumy); but words in -gram double the m (compare epigrammatic, diagrammatic, with systematic).

mobilize makes -zable; see MUTE E. mobocracy. See HYBRID DERIVA

TIVES.

moccasin, which suggests the pronunciation better, is now preferred to the formerly current mocassin.

mocha, coffee. Pronounce mō'ka. model makes -lled, -lling, &c.; see -LL-, -L-.

moderate makes -rable, -tor; see -ABLE 1, -or.

modern makes -nness. For the m. Athens, the m. Babylon, see SOBRIQUETS.

modernize has -zable; sec MUTE E. modest makes -er, -est.

modify. For inflexions see VERBS IN -IE, -Y, -YE, 6.

modish. So spelt; see MUTE E. modulate makes -lable, -tor; see -ABLE 1, -OR.

modulus. Pl. -li (-i).

modus vivendi (literally way of living) is any temporary compromise that enables parties to carry on pending settlement of a dispute that would otherwise paralyse their activities.

Mogul. Accent the second syllable. For the spelling Mughal see DIDACTICISM, MAHOMET.

Mohammed(an). See MAнomet.

molety, apart from uses as a legal term & a FORMAL WORD, exists merely for the delight of the ELEGANT-VARIATIONist in such triumphs as: The Unionist candidate was returned by exactly half the number of votes polled, the other moiety being divided between a Labour & an Independent opponent.

moire)(moiré. Moire, or moire antique, is the name of the watered silk material; moiré is first an adjective meaning watered like moire (often of metal surfaces), & secondly a noun meaning watered surface or effect. A moire dress; velvets & moire antiques; a moiré

surface; the moiré has been improved by using the blowpipe. Pronounce mwahr, mwar'ā.

moisten. The is silent; see PRONUNCIATION.

molasses is used as a singular. molecule, atom, electron, corpuscle. To the mere literary man without scientific knowledge, the relations of these words to each other are puzzling, & not easy to learn, even in an elementary way, from consulting each by itself in dictionaries. Some sentences picked out from the Enc. Brit. article on molecule may throw light; but here, first, are etymological meanings: molecule, small mass; atom, uncuttable (particle); electron, amber; corpuscle, small body.

the

The doctrine that matter can be divided into, or regarded as composed of, discrete particles (termed atoms by early writers, & molecules by modern ones) has at all times played an important part in metaphysics & natural science.'

'Democritus was the founder of the atomic theory, while Anaxagoras propounded that of continuity.'

.

The atoms, they [the atomists] said, do not fill up the universe; there are void spaces between them The opposite school maintained then, as they have always done, that there is no vacuum-that every part of space is full of matter, that there is a universal plenum.'

'Molecule, the minutest particle of matter capable of separate existence. The word appears to have been invented during the 17th century, & remained synonymous with atom

until the middle of the 19th century, when a differentiation was established.'

'An enormous mass of experimental evidence now shows quite conclusively that matter cannot be regarded as having a continuous structure, but that it is ultimately composed of discrete parts. The smallest unit of matter with which physical phenomena are concerned

MOLLIFY

is the molecule. When chemical phenomena occur the molecule may be divided into atoms; & these atoms, in the presence of electrical phenomena, may themselves be further divided into electrons or corpuscles.'

mollify. For inflexions, see VERBS IN IE, -Y, -YE, 6.

Molly. So spelt; see -EY, -IE, -Y. molten. See MELT.

momentarily, momently. The first means for a moment (he was momentarily abashed), the second from moment to moment or every moment (am momently expecting a wire from him). The differentiation is well worth more faithful observance than it gets; & the substitution of either, which sometimes occurs, for instantly or immediately or at once is foolish NOVELTY-HUNTING.

momentary, momentous. The first means lasting only for a moment, or transitory; the second means of moment, i. e. of great consequence.

momentum. Pl. usually -ta.

monachal, monastic, monkish. Each has its own abstract noun-monachism, monasticism, monkery. Of the three sets monastic(ism) is the one that suits all contexts; it is useful that monkish & monkery should also exist, as serving the purpose of those who wish to adopt a certain tone. Monachal & monachism, though they would have passed well enough if monastic(ism) did not exist & were not much better known, seem as it is to have no recommendation unless it is a good thing that scholars writing for scholars should have other names for things than those generally current, even though the meaning is the same. If that is, on the contrary, bad thing, monachal & monachism should be allowed to die.

monadism)(monism.

a

Both terms owe their existence to the metaphysical problem of the relation between mind & matter. The view that regards mind & matter as two

MONOCLE

independent constituents of which the universe is composed is called dualism. In contrast with dualism, any view that makes the universe consist of mind with matter as a form of mind, or of matter with mind as a form of matter, or of a substance that in every part of it is neither mind nor matter but both, is called monism (see also METAPHYSICS). Monadism is the name given to a particular form of monism, corresponding to the molecular or atomic theory of matter (see MOLECULE), & holding that the universal substance (according to the third variety of monism described in the previous sentence) consists of units called monads.

monarchical, -chic, -chal, -chial. The first is the current form; -chic is occasionally used for antithetic purposes (the monarchic, the aristocratic, & the democratic branches of our constitution); -chal with a slight rhetorical difference, where kingly might serve (the royal harangue has a certain monarchal tone); -ial seems superfluous.

monastic(ism). See MONACHAL. Monday. For Ile is coming M.,

&c., see FRIDAY.

monde. See FRENCH Words. monetary, monetize. See PRONUNCIATION for the question between mon & mun.

moneyed, moneys, not monied, monies.

mongoose. Pl. -ooses.

mongrel makes -lly; see -LL-, -L-. See MULATTO 1 for synonyms. monism. See MONADISM.

monitress. See FEMININE DESIG

NATIONS.

monk. For m. & friar, see friar. monkey, n. Pl. -eys.

monkey, vb. For inflexions see VERBS IN IE, -Y, -YE, 2.

monoecious. Pronounce -nēsh- ; for noe-, -no-, see æ, C.

monocle. That this, a HYBRID DERIVATIVE, a GALLICISM, & a word with no obvious meaning to the Englishman who hears it for the

monotonic, -nous. The secondary sense of monotonous (same or tedious) has so nearly swallowed up its primary (of one pitch or tone) that it is well worth while to remember the existence of monotonic, which has the primary sense only.

Monroe doctrine. Its status is that of a manifesto addressed by the U.S.A. to all whom it may concern, not that of a treaty or a piece of international law.

Its contents are not definite, nor expressed as a legislative enactment, nor extractable from a single document, but are in course of development, having varied from the view that European Powers must not interpose with a view to securing control of independent American States, nor establish fresh colonies in America, to the principle that every portion of the American continent must be free from European control.

Its name is taken from President Monroe, who in 1823 made a declaration to Congress to the effect stated above in summary as the first view.

The original policy at least had the official approval of Great Britain. monseigneur,

FRENCH WORDS.

monsieur.

See

monsignor, -ore. Pron. -ēnyor'(ě). Pl. -ori (-ė).

monsoon. See WIND, n.

mood. It may save misconceptions to mention that the grammar word has nothing to do with the native word meaning frame of mind &c., & is merely a variant of mode.

moollah. See MULLAH, mora. The Italian finger-flashing

moral, adj. 1. For distinctions between m. & ethical, morals & ethics, see ETHICAL 5, 6. 2. M. victory, m. certainty. The first is often applied to an event that is from another point of view a defeat; the second is always applied to what is in fact an uncertainty. It is so easy to see why m. victory should mean what it does, & so hard to see why m. certainty should, that anyone considering the point by the mere light of nature is tempted to guess that m. certainty is the illegitimate offspring of m. victory, & perhaps to abstain from using it as a solecism. The OED quotations show that, on the contrary, it is much the older of the two phrases; &, though this peculiar sense of practical or virtual in combination with certainty, & of tantamount to demonstrative in combination with evidence, is hard to account for, it is established as idiomatic.

moral(e), n. Is a combination of pedantry & Gallicism to bully us into abandoning the English word morale? For, until a few years ago, we all wrote that without thinking twice about it; & to this day you will meet it in the local newspapers that have not time to keep up with the latest tricks of the London Press, & in those parts of the London Press itself that have to use a tongue understanded of the people.

The case for the spelling moral is that (1) the French use the word moral for what we used to call morale, & therefore we ought to do the same; & that (2) the French use morale to mean something different from what we mean by it.

The case against moral is (1) that it is a new word, less comprehensible to ordinary people, even now after its wartime currency, than the old morale; (2) that it must always be dressed in italics owing to the occasional danger of confusion with the English word moral, & that such

MORAL(E)

artificial precautions are never kept up; (3) that half of us do not know whether to call it mo'ral, morǎ'l, or morah'l, & that it is a recognized English custom to resolve such doubts by the addition of -e or other change of spelling.

The view here taken is that the case for moral is extraordinarily weak, & that against it decidedly strong, & in fact that the question is simply one between true pedantry & true English. A few remarks may be made on the points already summarized.

Here are two extracts from bookreviews in The Times: He persistently spells moral (state of mind of the troops, not their morality) with a final e, a sign of ignorance of French./The purist in language might quarrel with Mr 's title for this book on the psychology of war, for he means by morale not "ethics' or 'moral philosophy', but the temper of a people expressing itself in action'. But no doubt there is authority for the perversion of the French word. Is it either ignorance of French or a perversion of the French word? or would a truer account of the matter be that we have never had anything to do with the French word morale (ethics, morality, a moral, &c.), but that we found the French word moral (state of discipline & spirit in armies & the like) suited to our needs, & put an -e on to it to keep its sound distinct from that of our own word moral, just as we have done with the French local (English locale) & the German Choral (English chorale), & as, using contrary means for the same end of fixing a sound, we have turned French diplomate into English diplomat? Our English forte (geniality is not his forte, &c.) is altered from the French fort without even the advantage of either keeping the French sound or distinguishing the spoken word from our fort; but who proposes to sacrifice the reader's convenience by correcting its 'ignorant' spelling?

The French word morale has never had any currency in English, though it is no doubt used by misguided gallicizers from time to time, & it certainly need not be taken into account as an objection to spelling the French moral as suits our convenience.

If we reinstate the once almost universal morale, we need no italics, & there is no fear of confusion; if we adopt moral, we need italics, & there is no hope of getting them; it is at present printed oftener without than with them. The following five extracts, in some of which the English adjective moral, & in some the French noun moral, is meant, have all the same type for moral as for the rest. They are printed here, except for the italicizing of the whole, exactly as they appeared, & they are enough to suggest how easy it would be for real doubts to arise about which word is being used :An astounding decrease in the moral discipline & patriotism of German soldiers (Has, or has not, a comma dropped out after moral ?)./It is indeed a new proof of the failing moral & internal troubles of the German people (Moral & internal ? Oh dear no!)./A true arbitrator, a man really impartial between two contendants & even indifferent to their opposing morals./The Russian army will recover its moral & fighting power./The need of Poland, not only for moral, but for the material support of the Allies.

The right course is to make the English word morale, use ordinary type, call it morah'l, & ignore or abstain from the French word morale, of which we have no need. See for other examples of pedantry with French words, À L'OUTRANCE & DOUBLE ENTENDRE ; cf, also

GUERILLA.

moralize makes -zable; see MUTE E. morbid makes est; see -ER &

-EST 4.

morbidezza. Pronounce -ětsa.

more. 1. For limitations on the