ve probably got loose through its generic employment
in composite words, e.g. guinea-pig, sea-pig, &c.; and having acquired a
generic use cannot lose it again. But it might perhaps be worth while to
distinguish strictly between the generic and the special use of the word
_pig_, and not call a sow a pig, nor a hen a chicken. So _hog_ and _sow_
might still have their _pigs_ and be all of them _swine_.

_Swift_. Perhaps it is going too far to say that 'swift' is colloquial
only in metaphorical applications, we might speak of 'a swift bowler'
without exciting surprise; but it is expedient to restore this word to
general use, and avoid the use of _fast_ for denotation of speed. 'To
stand fast' is very well, but 'to run fast' is thoroughly objectionable.
Such a use destroys the sense of firmness which the word is needed and
well qualified to denote.

_Chide_. This word probably needs its past tense and participle to be
securely fixed before it will be used. It is perhaps wholly the
uncertainty of these that has made the word to be avoided. _Chid_ and
_chidden_ should be taught, and _chode_ and _chided_ condemned as
illiterate.

NOTE ON 'DYING WORDS'

Diderot in his _Lettre sur les Sourds et Muets_ deplores the loss of good
old terms in the French of his day; he writes:

'Je blame cette noblesse pretendue qui nous a fait exclure de notre langue
un grand nombre d'expressions energiques. Les Grecs, les Latins qui ne
connoissoient gueres cette fausse delicatesse, disoient en leur langue ce
qu'ils vouloient, et comme ils le vouloient. Pour nous, a force de
rafiner, nous avons appauvri la notre, & n'ayant souvent qu'un terme
propre a rendre une idee, nous aimons mieux affoiblir l'idee que de ne pas
employer un terme noble.[3] Quelle perte pour ceux d'entre nos Ecrivains
qui ont l'imagination forte, que celle de tant de mots que nous revoyons
avec plaisir dans Amyot & dans Montagne. Ils ont commence par etre
rejettes du beau style, parce qu'ils avoient passe dans le peuple; &
ensuite rebutes par le peuple meme, qui a la longue est toujours le singe
des Grands, ils sont devenus tout-a-fait inusites.'... [ED.]

[Footnote 3: _Noble_. _Genteel_ would not be a fair translation, but it
gives the meaning. Littre quotes: 'Il ne nommera pas le boulanger de
Cresus, le palefrenier de Cyrus, le chaudronnier Macistos; il dit grand
panetier, ecuyer, armurier, avertissant en note que cela est plus
_noble_.']

* * * *