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Etymology Dictionary |
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PREFACE |
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In a work which, like the present undertaking, covers so much ground and deals with so many languages, it is very difficult to secure complete accuracy; it can, perhaps, at best be only aimed at. Several errors have been detected by myself, and kind friends have pointed out others. New facts are continually being brought to light; for the science of philology is, at this time, still rapidly progressive. Fortunately, everything tends in the direction of closer accuracy and greater certainty, and we may hope that the number of doubtful points will steadily diminish. In particular, I am obliged to Mr. H. Wedgwood for his publication entitled 'Contested Etymologies in the Dictionary of the Rev. W. W. Skeat; London, Trübner and Co., 1882.' I have carefully read this book, and have taken from it several useful hints. In reconsidering the etymologies of the words which he treats, I have, in some cases, adopted his views either wholly or in part. In a few instances, he does not really contest what I have said, but notices something that I have left unsaid. For example, I omitted to state that he was the first person to point out the etymology of wanion; unfortunately, I did not observe his article on the subject, and had to rediscover the etymology for myself, with the same result. Hence the number of points on which we differ is now considerably reduced; and I think a further reduction might have been made if he could have seen his way, in like manner, to adopting views from me. I think that some of the etymologies of which he treats cannot fairly be said to be 'contested'; for there are cases in which he is opposed, not only to myself, but to everyone else. Thus, with regard to the word avoid, he would have us derive the F. vuide (or vide), empty, from O. H. G. wít rather than from the Lat. uiduus; to which I would reply that, in a matter of French etymology, most scholars are quite content to accept the etymology given by Littré, Scheler, and Diez, in a case wherein they are all agreed and see no difficulty in the matter. The List of Errata and Addenda, as given in the first edition, has been almost entirely rewritten. Most of the Errata (especially where they arose from misprints) have been corrected in the body of the work; and I am particularly obliged to Mr. C. E. Doble for several minute corrections, and for his kindness in closely regarding the accentuation of Greek words. The number of Additional Words in the present Addenda is about two hundred, whereas the list of Additional Words in the first edition is little more than fifty. I am much obliged to Mr. Charles Sweet for suggesting several useful additions, and especially for sending me some explanations of several legal terms, such as assart, barrator, escrow, essoin, and the like. I think that some of the best etymologies in the volume may be found in these additional articles, and I hope the reader will kindly remember to consult this supplement, commencing at p. 775, before concluding that he has seen all that I have to say upon any word he may be seeking for. Of course this supplement remains incomplete; there are literally no bounds to the English language. I also gladly take the opportunity of gratefully acknowledging the assistance of the Rev. A. L. Mayhew, who not only sent me a large number of suggestions, but has much assisted me by reading the proof-sheets of the Addenda. I also beg leave to thank there the numerous correspondents who have kindly corrected individual words. I have also made some use of the curious book on Folk-Etymology by the Rev. A. S. Palmer, which is full of erudition and contains a large number of most useful and exact references. The author is not quite sound as to the quantity of the Anglo-Saxon vowels, and has, in some instances, attempted to connect words that are really unrelated; thus, under Hatter, he connects A. S. hát, hot, with Goth. hatis, hate. In many places I think the plan of his book has led him into multiplying unduly the number of 'corruptions'; so that caution is needful in consulting the book. At the time of writing this, we are anxiously expecting the issue of the first part of Dr. Murray's great and comprehensive English Dictionary, founded on the materials collected by the Philological Society; and I suppose it is hardly necessary to add that, if any of my results as to the etymology of such words as he has discussed are found not to agree with his, I at once submit to his careful induction from better materials and to the results of the assistance his work has received from many scholars. I have already had the benefit of some kindly assistance from him, as for example, in the case of the words adjust, admiral, agnail, allay, almanack, and almond. Every day's experience helps to shew how great and how difficult is the task of presenting results in a form such as modern scientific criticism will accept. Every slip is a lesson in humility, shewing how much remains to be learnt. At the same time, I cannot close these few words of preface without hearty thanks to the many students, in many parts of the world, who have cheered me with kindly words and have found my endeavours helpful. CAMBRIDGE, December 21, 1883. 
From An Etymological Dictionary of the English Language, by the Rev. Walter W. Skeat, Litt.D. LL.D. Edin., M.A. Oxon. Elrington and Bosworth Professor of Anglo-Saxon in the University of Cambridge. Second Edition, 1883. |
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