15 AUGUST 1931, Page 18

POINTS FROM LETTERS AMERICAN SLANG. • Among points from letters

in your issue of July 11th appears an extract from a letter from Mr. Edgar R. McGregor, of Wheeling, W. Va. regarding American slang. I am always ready to enter the lists in defence of America ; but in this instance I must admit that I occasionally use amid hear (but always in fun) the word " dis-remember." It really means that the one using the word once knew the subject ; but has forgotten it, perhaps temporarily. The Century Dictionary

carries both words, as follows : •

Mia-remember, To remember incorrectly ; also (colloq.) to fail to remember.

Die-remember, To fail to remember ; forget (colloq.).

I should say that to " dis-remember " is to suffer from a temporary "dis-ability," and is usually given as an excuse for an incomplete statement. After our brief "Border War" in Mexico, the word " Pronto " was frequently heard for a short time ; but never, to my knowledge, became recognized slang.—Taos. CARR POWELL, 33 East Bellevue Place, Chicago,