A Dictionary of the English Language. By the Rev. James
Stormonth. New Edition. (Blackwood and Sons.)—This dic- tionary, " Pronouncing, Etymological, and Explanatory," has taken so definite a place among standard books of reference that it would be needless, commonly, to do more than mention the appearance of a new edition. But this particular reissue has a curiously interesting feature in the supplement—containing nearly forty pages—which gives the words that have made their way into the language since the appearance of the last edition. Some, doubtless, are omissions now rectified. " Berserker," " sophomore," " bretwalda," " derring-do," " Eudmmonism," are not novelties. But there are hundreds of new words which really imply a vast amount of history, scientific and other. Technical words such as "accelomi," " aeroclinoscope," " agraphia," " anmrobia," " antipyrin," to take some instances from the first few pages, indicate progress in biology, meteorology, and medical science. " Boycott," " Bloomer " (though this must be older), " closure," " cleek," " County Council," " franc-tireur," " gorgon- zola," "house-boat," to pick a few specimens as they come, have a general significance, from the point of view of history, social and political.
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