Page:The king's English (IA kingsenglish00fowlrich).pdf/25

This page has been proofread, but needs to be validated.
MALAPROPS
11

Transcendently means in a superlative degree: transcendentally is a philosophic term for independently of experience, &c.

Until at last, gathered altogether again, they find their way down to the turf.—Ruskin. (all together)

At such times ... Jimmie's better angel was always in the ascendency.—Windsor Magazine.

Was in the ascendant: had an ascendency over.

The inconsistency and evasion of the attitude of the Government.—Spectator.

Evasiveness the quality: evasion a particular act.

The requisition for a life of Christianity is 'walk in love'.—Daily Telegraph.

Requisite or requirement, the thing required: requisition, the act of requiring it.

We will here merely chronicle the procession of events.—Spectator. (progress or succession)

I was able to watch the Emperor during all these interviews, and noticed the forcible manner in which he spoke, especially to the Sultan's uncle, who came from Fez especially.—Times. (specially)

As it stands, it implies that he came chiefly from Fez, but from other places in a minor degree; it is meant to imply that he came for this particular interview, and had no other motive. The differentiation of spec- and espec- is by no means complete yet, but some uses of each are already ludicrous. Roughly, spec- means particular as opposed to general, espec- particular as opposed to ordinary; but usage must be closely watched.

That it occurs in violence to police regulations is daily apparent.—Guernsey Advertiser. (violation of)

In the field it aims at efforts of unexpected and extreme violence; the research of hostile masses, their defeat by overwhelming and relentless assault, and their wholesale destruction by rigorous pursuit.—Times. (discovery)

The object of research is laws, principles, facts, &c., not concrete things or persons. Entomological research, for instance, does not look for insects, but for facts about insects.

3. Give-and-take forms, in which there are two words, with