Pope’s Essay on Criticism.
In short, in this, as in every other question on this subject, perspicuity should be our guide. If the subject be art or science, or if the composition be intended for literary men, then a greater latitude may be allowed, as the reader is supposed to be master of the language, in all its varieties. But if the subject be accommodated to common capacity, and the composition designed for ordinary readers, the rule now given, not to employ a word, which has been disused for a period greater than the age of man, will be deemed, I conceive, rational and necessary.
The usage, then, which gives law to language, and which is generally denominated “good usage,” must be reputable, national, and present. It happens, however, that “good usage” is not always uniform in her decisions, and that unquestionable authorities are found for different modes of expression. In such cases, the following canons, proposed by the same author, will be of considerable service, in enabling the reader to decide, to which phraseology the preference is due. These canons I shall give, nearly in the words of the author; and illustrate them, as I proceed, by a few apposite examples, partly his, and partly my own.
Canon I.—When the usage is divided, as to any particular words or phrases, and when one of the expressions is susceptible of a different meaning, while the other admits only one signification, the expression, which is strictly univocal, should be preferred.
For this reason, aught[135], for “anything,” is better than ought; scarcely, as an adverb, better than scarce; by consequence is preferable to of consequence, which signifies also “of importance;” and exceedingly, as an adverb, is preferable to exceeding.
For the same reason, to purpose, for “to intend,” is better than to propose, which signifies also “to lay before,” or “submit to consideration;” and proposal, for “a thing offered or proposed,” is better than “proposition,” which denotes also “a position,” or the “affirmation of any principle or maxim.” Thus we say, “he demonstrated Euclid’s proposition,” and “he rejected the proposal of his friend.”
Agreeably also to this canon, disposal, in common language, when a grant, or giving away is denoted, or when the management of anything is to be expressed, is preferable to disposition, which signifies also arrangement, and likewise temper of mind; and exposure, as the verbal noun from expose, is better than exposition, the verbal noun of expound. We should say, “the exposure of a fault,” and “the exposition of a text.” The analogous words composure, from compose, and composition, from compound, or compose, have been suffered to retain their distinct significations. “To speak contemptuously of a person,” is better than “to speak contemptibly;” the latter term meaning generally, “in a contemptible manner,” or, “in a manner worthy of contempt;” whereas the former is univocal, and denotes disrespectfully, or “in a manner significant of contempt.”
For the same reason, obvious, for “evident,” is better than apparent, which means also “seeming,” as opposed to “real.”
The term primitive, as equivalent to original, is preferable to primary. The latter is synonymous with principal, and is opposed to secondary; the former is equivalent to original, and is opposed to derivative or acquired. I shall illustrate this distinction by a few examples. The words falsehood and lie agree in expressing the same primary idea, namely, “contrariety to fact;” but they differ in their secondary ideas, the former implying simply, “inconsistency with physical truth,” the latter being a term of reproach, expressing “a wilful breach of veracity, or of moral truth.” To kill, and to murder, agree also in their primary ideas, both denoting “the deprivation of life;” but they differ in their secondary, the former implying no moral turpitude, the latter denoting an immoral act. From these examples it will appear, that primary denotes “what is principal or chief,” as opposed to “secondary,” or “subordinate.”
Primitive is equivalent to original; thus we say, the primitive meaning of the word villain, was “a nearer tenant to the lord of the manor;” custom has altered its signification, and it now denotes “a wicked fellow.” Thus the primary and the primitive meaning of words may be very different; these terms, therefore, ought to be duly discriminated.