29 SEPTEMBER 1917, Page 19

A new part of the tenth and last volume of

the Oxford English Dictionary contains the fifteen hundred and eighty main words from "Verificatory" to "Visor," edited by Dr. W. A. Croigio (Clarendon Press, 5s. net). Including combinations, three thousand and two words are dealt with, or mere than twice as in Lay ea in the corresponding section of any other dictionary. It is curious to note that " vignette " had been anglicized as " vynnot " or " venett" by Lydgate in the early fifteenth century, and commonly spelt " virtet " or " vent" under the Stuarts, long before it was re- introduced from the French, with the French spelling, in the eighteenth century. Many other words have been imported twice, but " vignette " looks more modern than it is. In the ninth volume part of "S" still remains unfinished; in the tenth, "U," the rest of "V," and the last four letters of the alphabet have yet to be done. But a few more years should see the great " Murray " complete, a lusting memorial of the English scholarship of our time.