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Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 3, Issue 261, 31 December 1914, Page 4 (Supplement)

WRONG WORDS IN RIGHT PLACES. There are quite a numbor'of words in tho English language which havo become so perverted by usage that to-day they arc taken to iiiean, exactly tho reverw of what tho dictionary definition of them a.sserta to lie correct. Jl, for instance, you ask pcoploif they havo seen to-day's newspaper, they may answer: "Oh, we have just scanned it," meaning to imply that they havo only "glanced" aj it, while tho word "scan" really means "to examine minutely or caretullv." Other people will say they will give you a "mo'cty" of such and such a thing, or a reward, meaning to offer a littlo hit. while tho truo definition is "the half—one of two equal parts.'' . To-day the word " parlous is used in tho eense <)t a person lieing in a very serious way of ill-health, or a bii*inea» very low in finances, and yet its real meaning 's "bright, witty, and spritely," and was used in that sense iu tho days of Shakespeare. SIMPLE TRUTH. Sh<. was a charitable lady, of n nome. what inquiring turn of mind, and »no was paving a visit to the Navnl Hon|Mtal. I'Weiitly -die <'ain<> to the l»ed.s'de of n poor fellow who was ono of Hh> victims of a rnoint naval Iwittle. "Mv |o< r felbw." fh. said, depositin" "a "ban. Ii af grapes within his reach, "\ r our sensations and sufferings at the time of the aeeiden.!. liiu-i have boon terrible. fan you—will von describe them to iin'!'" - •WMI muni." said .Tohn stolidly. 1 don't kn.«w a I can but I em tell you I »;i, on deck at the time attending to m\ duty wnli ibe gun. when «vll of a vudde'i' th. w came »>. ii'o-'t. inlernal ~ov ,in<! !h "i the nur.-e says, "Sit up and ta'.e this.' " coon ursiNKss. I. : t:!<. Johnny wns being hxiured on th , iiiedi of po'i'en -s. •• \, rt . on- ,on." said Irs mother, "whin \ou accidentally tread on a (tentleinan's foot, wlia ( shoti'd yon say!'" ■• I would say, '1 am very srrrrv, •'• \nd 11 von should g' I a penny for '...in- poll.' what lle'ii?" I, til,, .tehimv being from a -.ioekhiok. -. i-etibe.l •aroinptly: _ "I'd i:,| ~ a ehaiiee for another penny!"