ot_ either stands for, or can be
substituted for another verb. In confirmation of this last
statement, is appended the following composed by Dr. Withers:
"I _got_ on horseback within ten minutes after I _got_ your
letter. When I _got_ to Canterbury, I _got_ a chaise for town,
but I _got_ wet before I _got_ to Canterbury; and I have _got_
such a cold as I shall not be able to _get_ rid of in a hurry.
I _got_ to the Treasury about noon, but first of all I _got_
shaved and dressed. I soon _got_ into the secret of getting a
memorial before the board, but I could not _get_ an answer
then; however, I _got_ intelligence from the messenger, that I
should most likely _get_ one the next morning. As soon as I
_got_ back to my inn, I _got_ my supper and _got_ to bed. It
was not long before I _got_ asleep. When I _got_ up in the
morning, I _got_ my breakfast, and then I _got_ myself dressed
that I might _get_ out in time to _get_ an answer to my
memorial. As soon as I _got_ it, I _got_ into the chaise and
_got_ to Canterbury by three, and about tea-time, I got home. I
have _got_ nothing for you, and so adieu."

Applying this test of substitution to any doubtful case, I think
it right to assert that if there is no other verb, or
participle, that will appropriately take the place of "got,"
the latter word is _unnecessary_; but it should hardly be
considered as an error, as it is so slight an impropriety
compared with many others that are allowed, and especially
because we have long had the usage of many of the best writers
to sanction the employment of the word. The very people that
appear to be so shocked at the use of the superfluous _got_,
may generally be heard making use of such expressions as "fell
_down_ upon the ground," "rose _up_ and went away," "covered it
_over_," and "a great, _big_ fire." The _down_, _up_, _over_
and _big_ are certainly superfluities, but they have been heard
so long that they are seldom mentioned as errors.

=Gourmand=--g[=o][=o]r'maend, not gor'mand, unless the orthography
=gormand= is used.

=Gout=--gowt, not g[=o][=o]t, as actors are sometimes heard
pronounce it in the following line from Macbeth: "On thy blade
and dudgeon, _gouts_ of blood."