" RESULT " AND " RESILIENCE. " [TO THE EDITOR OP THE
"SPECTATOR."] SIR,—While entirely agreeing in your very able and interesting criticism on Ruskin as a poet, I venture to think that you have been rather hard on him in condemning his use of the word "result " in the quoted passage : " The crisp sod Whose velvet tuftings most I love to feel Result elastic under- neath my heel." No doubt there is a slight awkwardness in the use of the infinitive form " result," instead of the participle "resulting." But your objection, as stated, seems rather to apply to the use of the word "result " at all in this connec- tion, and it is to this that I demur. To " result " is most strictly and etymologically to " fly back," to " spring up again after pressure ;" and surely no word could more quietly describe the rebound, or spring-back, of velvety turf when trodden upon.—I am, Sir, &c., H. C. CALVERLEY.
Brampton Rectory, Northampton, November 4th.
[ Result is no doubt connected etymologically with resilience, but it has long lost all popular association with its etymo- logical meaning. It is now an abstract rationalised word, of no use to the poet.—En. Spectator.]
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