DR. MORAN’S LATIN.

Evening Star, Volume IX, Issue 2638, 1 August 1871, Page 2

DR. MORAN’S LATIN.

To the Editor. Sir, — Dr Moran is no doubt correct as to the first meaning of the word “ persequar” being “ I will follow perseveringly ” (and not “to follow perseveringly,as the Bishop has it, which would be “ persequi"); still, as he knows, or ought to know, very well its second and generally-accepted meaning is “I will persecute.” Where, as is frequently the case, there are several meanings to a word, lexicographers, as a rule, give us the first meaning, the original or literal meaning of the word. Thus, the word “ pcrsequor" is compounded of the verb “ sequor,” “I follow,” and the preposition “ per," “ through ’’—consequently its literal or first meaning is, “I follow through,” or “perseveringly”; still, as any first-year’s Latin pupil in our (by Dr Moran) much-con-temned School is aware, its ordinary and generally-received meaning is “ I persecute.” Dr Moran or any of your readers mly readily convince themselves of the truth of this by referring to any Latin or other dictionary, where they will find numerous instances of the application of this rule—e g, in most English dictionaries they will find, on turning to the word “Jesuit,” that its primary or literal meaning is “ a member of the Order of Jesus,” whereas its secondary and generally-accepted moaning is “ a clever, designing knave.” Yours, &c., A Hater op Hypocrites. Dunedin, August 1.