Practical Exercises in English Part 5

VERDICT, TESTIMONY.

20. The ---- of history is that Christianity has improved the condition of women.

21. Let us await the ---- of the public.

22. The early Christian martyrs sealed their ---- with their blood.

23. The ---- of those who saw the murder was contradictory.

THE WHOLE, ALL.

24. ---- (of) the dishes came tumbling to the floor.

25. Tell ---- (the) truth.

26. Then you and I and ---- of us fell down.

27. Was.h.i.+ngton was respected by ---- (the) people.

28. We sold ---- (of) our apples at sixty cents a bushel.

29. He has already packed ---- of his books.

30. ---- (the) adornments took an appropriate and sylvan character.

31. He readily confided to her ---- (the) papers concerning the intrigue.

32. In the afternoon ---- of them got into a boat and rowed across the lake.

II. A RESEMBLANCE IN SOUND MISLEADS.[25]

ACCEPTANCE, ACCEPTATION.--_Acceptance_ is the "act of accepting"; also "favorable reception": as, "The acceptance of a gift," "She sang with marked acceptance." _Acceptation_ now means "the sense in which an expression is generally understood or accepted."

ACCESS, ACCESSION.--_Access_ has several meanings authorized by good use: (1) outburst; (2) admission; (3) way of entrance. _Accession_ means (1) the coming into possession of a right; or (2) an addition.

ACTS, ACTIONS.--"_Acts_, in the sense of 'things done,' is preferable to _actions_, since _actions_ also means 'processes of doing.'"[26]

ADVANCE, ADVANCEMENT.--_Advance_ is used in speaking of something as moving forward; _advancement_, as being moved forward.

ALLUSION, ILLUSION, DELUSION.--An _allusion_ is an indirect reference to something not definitely mentioned. Roughly speaking, an _illusion_ is an error of vision; _delusion_, of judgment. "In literary and popular use an _illusion_ is an unreal appearance presented in any way to the bodily or the mental vision; it is often pleasing, harmless, or even useful.... A _delusion_ is a mental error or deception, and may have regard to things actually existing, as well as to _illusions_. _Delusions_ are ordinarily repulsive and discreditable, and may even be mischievous."[27]

AVOCATION, VOCATION.--"_Vocation_ means 'calling' or 'profession'; _avocation_, 'something aside from one's regular calling, a by-work.'"[28]

COMPLETION, COMPLETENESS.--_Completion_ is "the act of completing"; _completeness_ is "the state of being complete."

OBSERVATION, OBSERVANCE.--_Observation_ contains the idea of "looking at"; _observance_, of "keeping," "celebrating." "We speak of the _observation_ of a fact, of a star; of the _observance_ of a festival, of a rule."[29]

PROPOSAL, PROPOSITION.--"A _proposal_ is something proposed to be done, which may be accepted or rejected. A _proposition_ is something proposed for discussion, with a view to determining the truth or wisdom of it."[30]

RELATIONs.h.i.+P, RELATION.--_Relations.h.i.+p_ properly means "the state of being related by kindred or alliance": as, "A relations.h.i.+p existed between the two families." _Relation_ is a word of much broader meaning. It does not necessarily imply kins.h.i.+p.

SOLICITUDE, SOLICITATION.--_Solicitude_ is "anxiety"; _solicitation_ is "the act of soliciting or earnestly asking."

STIMULATION, STIMULUS, STIMULANT.--_Stimulation_ is "the act of stimulating or inciting to action"; _stimulus_, originally "a goad," now denotes that which stimulates, the means by which one is incited to action; _stimulant_ has a medical sense, being used of that which stimulates the body or any of its organs. We speak of ambition as a _stimulus_, of alcohol as a _stimulant_.

[25] "Foundations," pp. 53-56.

[26] A.S. Hill: Principles of Rhetoric, revised edition, p. 18.

[27] The Century Dictionary.

[28] A.S. Hill: Principles of Rhetoric, revised edition, p. 39.

[29] A.S. Hill: Principles of Rhetoric, revised edition, p. 39.

[30] The Century Dictionary.

EXERCISE XX.

_Tell the difference in meaning between_--

1. The acceptance (acceptation) of this word is doubtful.

2. The acts (actions) of Napoleon were carefully observed.

3. The colonel's advance (advancement) was not long delayed.

4. Literature has been Dr. Holmes's avocation (vocation).

5. The list of African dialects is approaching completeness (completion).

6. The completion (completeness) of this new dictionary of the Latin language will make scholars glad.

7. The professor advised me, when I went to Rome, to be especially careful in my observation (observance) of the religious ceremonies of Pa.s.sion Week.

8. This proposal (proposition) made both Republican and Democratic senators indignant.

9. His mother's solicitude (solicitation) induced Was.h.i.+ngton when he was a boy to give up his intention of going to sea.

10. Shall I give your son a stimulus (stimulant)?

EXERCISE XXI.

_Insert the proper word in each blank, and give the reason for your choice_:--

ACCEPTANCE, ACCEPTATION.

1. The word "livery" is used in its original ----.

2. This is a true saying and worthy of ----.

3. The ---- of a trust brings grave responsibility.

4. He sent to the President a formal ---- of the position.

5. The a.s.sertion finds ---- in every rank of society.

6. In its common ---- "philosophy" signifies "the search after wisdom."

7. The probability of this theory justifies its full ----.

ACCESS, ACCESSION.

8. We are denied ---- to the king.

9. An ---- of fever occurred at nightfall.

10. The emperor at his ---- takes an oath to maintain the const.i.tution.

11. ---- to the outer court was through a ma.s.sive door.

12. The only ---- which the Roman Empire received was the province of Britain.

13. A sudden ---- of violent, burning fever had laid Peter's mother-in-law prostrate.

14. Victoria married after her ---- to the throne.

15. This allusion led to a fresh ---- of feeling.

ACT, ACTION.

16. I cannot do so cruel an ----.

17. Another mode of ---- was proposed by Henry Clay.

18. The fifth book of the New Testament records the ----s of the Apostles.

19. To attempt resistance would be the ---- of a madman.

20. The monkey imitates the ----s of its master.

ADVANCE, ADVANCEMENT.