The latest instalment of the New English Dictionary (Clarendon Press,
Ss.) is a double section, the beginning of Vol. VII. " 0— Onomastic," edited by Dr. James A. H. Murray. The beginning of Vol. VIII. is to be the next to appear, under the care of Mr. Craigie, whose name now appears for the first time. The end of this great undertaking now begins to loom in the not very remote distance. Half of "L," "M," and "N." something less than half of "0," "P," " Q," "R," "8" (part to appear on October 1st), "S —Z" yet remain. These, to judge from the analogy of other dictionaries, include something less than a half. In the present section " Of " occupies twenty columns. One of the chief rivals of the New English Dictionary gives this "most difficult of all the prepositions" something less than one, making up the column with "Off," to which we here find sir allotted. In many words there can be but little difference. It is when we come to such a case as this that the snore complete treatment shows prominently.
Previous page
