"The purses offered at the two meetings aggregate $32,000."-N. Y. Times.

Aggregate means, to form into a collection or mass; hence we could say properly, The purses aggregated, amount to, $32,000-i. e., the purses, when put together, amount to $32,000. We could also properly say, The purses in the aggregate, amount to, $32,000.

Ago. Sometimes misused for previously. Ago can not be used with a past tense.

Nearly a week ago he had started from Denver, well mounted, and with a light wagon loaded with his baggage." Properly, "Nearly a week previously." See SINCE.

Agree. Sometimes misused in the sense of admit, thus: That a flat brick façade, pierced by a few windows, does not make an inspiring [?] picture, all will agree.

Agriculturist. This word is to be preferred to agriculturalist. See CONVERSATIONALIST.

Ain't. This can not be called a contraction, and however much it may be employed it will still be only a vulgarism. I'm not is the only possible contraction of I am not, and we're not of we are not.

Alike. This word is often most bunglingly coupled with both. Thus, "These bonnets are both alike," or, worse still, if possible, “both just alike.” This reminds one of the story of Sam and Jem, who were very like each other, especially Sam.

All. See UNIVERSAL.

All of.

This idiom, though popular, is not sanctioned by the best usage. The of is always a superfluity. "I

have them all," not "I have all of them"; "Take it all," not "Take all of it."

All over.

"The discase spread all over the country."

It is more logical and more emphatic to say, The disease spread over all the country."

"Why, it is thought that the disease will spread all over [over all] Europe within thirty days and then cross the waters of the Atlantic."-N. Y. World.

Allege. Sometimes used for say by that class of speakers and writers that have little regard for the fitness of the words they employ-that class for whom bigness has more charms than signification.

A dispatch from Milwaukee, Wis., of July 27, 1884, to the New York Times, said:

"A storm yesterday in Eau Claire County damaged crops and buildings to the extent [amount] of $20,000. Hailstones fell which [that] are alleged [said] to have been [better: that were, it is said] six and eight inches in diameter." Six and eight are fourteen-a hailstone fourteen inches in diameter! This Wisconsin Munchausen is indiscreetly extravagant. Hailstones from even six tɔ eight inches in diameter would make too big a story for the credulity of most persons.

According to Crabb, the synonyms of allege are adduce, assign, and advance. "What is adduced tends to corroborate or to invalidate; what is alleged tends to criminate or to exculpate; what is assigned tends to justify or to support: what is advanced tends to explain and illustrate."

"The criminal alleged [i. e., pleaded] in his defense," etc.-Addison.

"If it be true, as Mr. Mangon alleges [says, or tells us], that the balloon was moved against the wind." etc.N. Y. Sun.

Allegory. An elaborated metaphor is called an allegory; both are figurative representations, the words used signifying something beyond their literal meaning. Thus,

i

in the eightieth Psalm, the Jews are represented under the symbol of a vine :

"Thou hast brought a vine out of Egypt: thou hast cast out the heathen, and planted it. Thou preparedst room before it, and didst cause it to take deep root, and it filled the land. The hills were covered with the shadow of it, and the boughs thereof were like the goodly cedars. She sent out her boughs unto the sea, and her branches unto the river. Why hast thou then broken down her hedges, so that all they that pass by the way do pluck her? The boar out of the wood doth waste it, and the wild beast of the field doth devour it."

An allegory is sometimes so extended that it makes a volume; as in the case of Swift's Tale of a Tub, Arbuthnot's John Bull, Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress, etc. Fables and parables are short allegories.

Allow. This word is frequently misused in the West and South, where it is made to do service for think; to be of opinion; to admit. Thus :

46

'He allows [thinks] that he has the finest horse in the country."

'When the editor saw it he allowed [admitted] that it wasn't so very much of an error after all."

"Arthur soon allowed [admitted] to Tom that he was a thorough little gentleman, and would get over his shyness all in good time."

"I allow [admit] you've provocation for it."

All the same. This locution, used in the sense of nevertheless, is said to be a Scotticism. It has in the inelegant French locution tout de même an exact counterpart.

Allude. The treatment this word has received is to be specially regretted, as its misuse has wellnigh robbed it of its true meaning, which is, to intimate delicately, to reser

to without mentioning directly. Allude is now very rarely used in any other sense than that of to speak of, to mention, to name, which is a long way from being its legitimate signification. This degradation is doubtless a direct outcome of untutored desire to be fine.

Allude is less direct than refer, and more direct than hint or suggest. One alludes to an event by introducing something allied to it; one refers to an event by introdncing it directly into one's discourse.

Almost-Nearly. These two adverbs should not be used indiscriminately. The idea contained in almost is nearness to completion; the idea contained in nearly is nearness to supervention. Almost regards the ending of an act; nearly, to the beginning. A man that receives an injury so severe that he comes off with barely his life is almost killed; a man that escapes what would have killed him is nearly killed. Examples:

"I am almost dead with fatigue."

"The night was very dark, and I had nearly driven over him before I saw him."

"I have almost finished writing my letters."

"The two rivals nearly met each other; for the one had only just left me when the other arrived."

Alone. This word is often improperly used for only. That is alone that is unaccompanied; that is only of which there is no other. "Virtue alone makes us happy," means that virtue unaided suffices to make us happy; "Virtue only makes us happy," means that nothing else can do it--that that, and that only (not alone), can do it. "This means of communication is employed by man alone." Dr. Quackenbos should have written, "By man only."

Alone is always an adjective, and not, like only, some

times an adverb.

solitary.

It means, apart from others; single;

"S. was editor of a periodical which [that] she intended should have contributions froin her own sex alone" [only from her own sex].

'Such characters exist even in this plain tale, and it is these alone [only], and our kindly readers, we take leave of with regret."-Charles Reade.

"They know that every hope of national temperance reform rests upon the success of the party which has alone shown itself possessed of any concern for moral and social progress."-N. Y. Tribune. Should be "The only party

that has shown," etc. See also ONLY.

Alternative. Often misused for course. An alternative

is a choice between two courses, thus: "This hard alter

native, or to renounce thy reason, or to believe."

"We were left the choice of three alternatives"

[courses].

"We can not believe that these are the only alternatives [courses].

"The only possible alternative" [course].

"The discovery left the court no alternative [course] but to pronounce judgment against them."

See EITHER ALTERNATIVE.

Always. Often used redundantly, thus,

I go to town I always visit my aunt."

"Whenever

Ameliorate. "The health of the Empress of Germany

is greatly ameliorated." Why not say improved?

Among. Sometimes misused thus: "He was there among the rest"; properly, with the rest.

Among one another. "They exchanged confidences among one another"; properly, with one another, or among themselves.