English Words Explained. By William L. Davidson, M.A. (Long- mans.)—A
useful little book this, explaining, with illustrative quota- tions, a number of synonymous or quasi.synonymons terms. The author very truly remarks that young students are taught to dis- criminate between such terms in Latin speech, and left in ignorance of not lees important distinctions in their own language. It would not be rash to say that many a lad who knows the difference between hostis and inimicas, nut and vel, contingit and accidit, would be puzzled were he asked to discriminate between "delusion" and "hallucination," " brag " and "vaunt," Sm. We do not always find ourselves in agreement with our author's definitions. His attempt at distinguishing between "wit " and "humour," for instance, is not particularly felicitous. He says :—" ' Wit' is an ingenious combination of ideas expressed in words, so as to give a pleasant surprise.
Humour' is a kindly handling of peculiarities in persona or circum- stances, so as to raise a genial laugh." This is particularly cumbrous, and not very exact. The late Master of Trinity's wit did not always cause a "pleasant surprise." Bat on the whole, the book, as it ie well meant, is carefully executed.
We have in The Pulpit Commentary, edited by Dean Spence and the Rev. Joseph S. Ezell (Kogan Paul, Trench, and Co.), the first volume of "Isaiah." The exposition and homiletics are furnished by Canon Bawlinson, who, in his introduction, argues temperately for the unity of authorship. (We obeerve that, incidentally, he accepts the authen- ticity of the " Cyrus " predictions. The homilies are furnished by the Revs. Professor Johnson, W. M. Statham, W. Clarkson, and R. Tuck. The first volume, we should say, includes chapters i..xxxv.
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