English cabal, they will make no sort of scruple to have it by the cabal of France.' BURKE. He who hesitates only when the doing of good is proposed, evinces himself a worthless member of society; The lords of the congregation did not hesitate a moment whether they should employ their whole strength in one generous effort to rescue their religion and liberty from impending destruction.' ROBERTSON. He who wavers between his duty and his inclination, will seldom maintain a long or doubtful contest; 'It is the greatest absurdity to be wavering and unsettled without closing with that side which appears the most safe and probable.' ADDISON. To fluctuate conveys the idea of strong agitation; to waver, that of constant motion backward and forward when applied in the moral sense, to fluctuate designates the action of the spirits or the opinions; to waver is said only of the will or opinions: he who is alternately merry and sad in quick succession is said to be fluctuating; or he who has many opinions in quick succession is said to fluctuate; but he who cannot form an opinion, or come to a resolution, is said to waver. Fluctuations and waverings are both opposed to a manly character: but the former evinces the uncontrolled influence of the passions, the total want of that equanimity which characterizes the Christian; the latter denotes the want of fixed principle, or the necessary decision of character: we can never have occasion to fluctuate, if we never raise our hopes and wishes beyond what is attainable; The tempter, but with show of zeal and love We can never have occasion to waver, if we know and feel what is right, and resolve never to swerve from it; Let a man, without trepidation or wavering, proceed in discharging his duty. BLAIR. TO HESITATE, FAULTER, STAMMER, STUTTER. Hesitate signifies the same as in the preceding article; falter or faulter seems to signify to commit a fault or blunder, or it may be a frequentative of to fall, signifying to stumble; stammer, in the Teutonic stammern, comes most probably from the Hebrew on to obstruct; stutter is but a variation of stam mer. A defect in utterance is the idea which is common in the signification of all these terms: they differ either as to the cause or the mode of the action. With regard to the cause, a hesitation results from the state of the mind, and an interruption in the train of thoughts; falter arises from a perturbed state of feeling; stammer and stutter arise either from an incidental circumstance, or more commonly from a physical defect in the organs of utterance. A person who is not in the habits of public speaking, or of collecting his thoughts into a set form, will be apt to hesitate even in familiar conversation; he who first addresses a public assembly will be apt to falter. Children who first begin to read will stammer at hard words: and one who has an impediment in his speech will stutter when he attempts to speak in a hurry. With regard to the mode or degree of the action, hesitate expresses less than falter: stammer less than stutter. 6 The slightest difficulty in uttering words constitutes a hesitation; a pause or the repetition of a word may be termed hesitating; To look with solicitude and speak with hesitation is attainable at will; but the show of wisdom is ridiculous when there is nothing to cause doubt, as that of valour when there is nothing to be feared.' JOHNSON. To falter supposes a failure in the voice as well as the lips when they refuse to do their office; And yet was every faultering tongue of man, Almighty Father! silent in thy praise, Thy works themselves would raise a general voice. THOMSON. Stammering and stuttering are confined principally to the useless moving of the mouth; Lagean juice Will stamm'ring tongues and stagg'ring feet produce. He who stammers brings forth sounds, but not the right sounds, without trials and efforts; he who stutters remains for some time in a state of agitation without uttering a sound. QUESTION, QUERY. The question is the thing called in question, or that which is sought for by a question; query is but a variation of quære, from the verb quæro to seek or inquire, signifying simply the thing sought for. Questions and queries are both put for the sake of obtaining an answer; but the former may be for a reasonable or unreasonable cause; a query is mostly a rational question: idlers may put questions from mere curiosity; learned men put queries for the sake of information. TO ASK, INQUIRE, QUESTION, Ask, comes from the Saxon ascian, low German esken, eschen, German heischen, Danish adske, &c. which for the most part signify to wish for, and come from the Greek diów to think worthy; whence this word in English has been employed for an expression of our wishes, for the purpose of obtaining what we want from others; inquire, Latin inquiro, compounded of in and quæro, signifies to search after; question, in Latin is a variation of the same word; interrogate, Latin interrogatus, participle of interrogo, compounded of inter and rogo, signifies to ask alternately, or an asking between different persons. We perform all these actions in order to get information: but we ask for general purposes of convenience; we inquire from motives of curiosity; we question and interrogate from motives of discretion. To ask respects simply one thing; to inquire respects one or many subjects; to question and interrogate is to ask repeatedly, to examine by questioning and interrogating, and in the latter case more authoritatively than in the former. Indifferent people ask of each other whatever they wish to know; Upon my asking her who it was, she told me it was a very grave elderly gentleman, but that she did not know his name.' ADDISON. Learners inquire the reasons of things which are new to them; You have oft inquir'd After the shepherd that complain'd of love. Magistrates interrogate criminals when they are brought before them; Thomson was introduced to the Prince of Wales, and being gaily interrogated about the state of his affairs, said, "that they were in a more poetical posture than formerly." JOHNSON. It is very uncivil not to answer whatever is asked even by the meanest person: it is proper to satisfy every inquiry, so as to remove doubt: questions are sometimes so impertinent that they cannot with propriety be answered: interrogations from unauthorized persons are little better than insults. To ask and interrogate are always personal acts; to inquire and question are frequently applied to things, the former in the sense of seeking (v. Examination), and the latter in that of doubting (v. To Doubt). EXAMINATION, SEARCH, INQUIRY, RESEARCH, INVESTIGATION, SCRUTINY. Examination comes from the Latin examino and examen, the beam by which the poise of the balance is held, because the judgement keeps itself as it were in a balance in examining; search, in French chercher, is a variation of seek and see; inquiry signifies the same as in the preceding article; research is an intensive of search; investigation, from the Latin vestigium a track, signifies seeking by the tracks or footsteps; scrutiny, from the Latin scrutor to search, and scrutum lumber, signifies looking for amongst lumber and rubbish, i. e. to ransack and turn over. Examination is the most general of these terms, which all agree in expressing an active effort to find out that which is unknown. The examination is made either by the aid of the senses or the understanding, the body or the mind; the search is principally a physical action; the inquiry is mostly intellectual; we examine a face or we examine a subject; we search a house or a dictionary; we inquire into a matter. An examination is made for the purpose of forming a judgement; the search is made for ascertaining a fact; the inquiry is made in order to arrive at truth. To examine a person, is either by means of questions to get at his mind, or by means of looks to become acquainted with his person; to search a person is by corporeal contact to learn what he has about him. We examine the features of those who interest us; officers of justice search those who are suspected; but, with the prepositions for or after, the verb search may be employed in a moral application; "If you search purely for truth, it will be indifferent to you where you find it.' BUDGELL. Examinations and inquiries are both made by means of questions; but the former is an official act for a specific end, the latter is a private act for purposes of convenience or pleasure. Students undergo examinations from their teachers; they pursue their inquiries for themselves. 6 An examination or an inquiry may be set on foot on any subject: but the examination is direct; it is the setting of things before the view, corporeal or mental, in order to obtain a conclusion; The body of man is such a subject as stands the utmost test of examination.' ADDISON. The inquiry is indirect; it is a circuitous method of coming to the knowledge of what was not known before; Inquiries after happiness are not so necessary and useful to mankind as the arts of consolation.' ADDison. The student examines the evidences of Christianity, that he may strengthen his own belief; the government institute an inquiry into the conduct of subjects. A research is an inquiry into that which is remote; an investigation is a minute inquiry; a scrutiny is a strict examination. Learned men of inquisitive tempers make their researches into antiquity; To all inferior animals 'tis giv'n JENYNS. Magistrates investigate doubtful and mysterious affairs; physicians investigate the causes of diseases; "We have divided natural philosophy into the investigation of causes, and the production of effects." BACON. Men scrutinize the actions of those whom they hold in suspicion; Before I go to bed, I make a scrutiny what peccant humours have reigned in me that day." HoWELL. Acuteness and penetration are peculiarly requisite in making researches; patience and perseverance are the necessary qualifications of the investigator; a quick discernment will essentially aid the scrutinizer. H TO EXAMINE, SEEK, SEARCH, EXPLORE. These words are here considered as they designate the looking upon places or objects, in order to get acquainted with them. To examine (v. Examination) expresses less than to seek and search: and these less than to explore, which, from the Latin ex and ploro, signifies to burst forth, whether in lamentation or examination. We examine objects that are near; we seek those that are remote or not at hand; search those that are hidden or out of sight; we explore those that are unknown or very distant. The painter examines a landscape in order to take a sketch of it; Compare each phrase, examine ev'ry line, Weigh ev'ry word, and ev'ry thought refine. POPE. One friend seeks another when they have parted; I have a venturous fairy, that shall seek The squirrel's hoard, and fetch thee thence new nuts. SHAKSPEARE. The botanist searches after curious plants; the inquisitive traveller explores unknown regions; the writer examines the books from which he intends to draw his authorities; Men will look into our lives, and examine our actions, and inquire into our conversations; by these they will judge the truth and reality of our profession.' TILLOTSON. A person seeks an opportunity to effect a purpose; Sweet peace, where do'st thou dwell? I humbly crave Let me once know, I sought thee in a secret cave, And ask'd if peace were there. HERBERT. and personal communication; examination proceeds by reading, reflection, and observation; we often examine therefore by discussion, which is properly ried on by two or more persons; an examination may one mode of examination: a discussion is always carbe carried on by one only: politics are a frequent though not always a pleasant subject of discussion in self as much in the church-yard as a citizen does upon social meetings; A country fellow distinguishes himthe change; the whole parish politics being generally discussed in that place either after sermon or before the bell rings.' ADDISON. Complicated questions cannot be too thoroughly examined; Men follow their inclinations without examining whether there be any principles which they ought to form for regulating their conduct.' BLAIR. Discussion serves for amusement rather than for any solid purpose; the cause of truth seldom derives any immediate benefit from it, although the minds of men may become invigorated by a collision of sentiment: examination is of great practical utility in the direction of our conduct: all decisions must be partial, unjust, or imprudent, which are made without previous examination. TO PRY, SCRUTINIZE, DIVE INTO. Pry is in all probability changed from prove, in the sense of try; scrutinize comes from the Latin scrutor to search thoroughly (v. Examination); dive expresses the physical action of going under water to the bottom, and figuratively of searching to the bottom. Pry is taken in the bad sense of looking more narrowly into things than one ought: scrutinize and dive into are employed in the good sense of searching The antiquarian searches every corner in which he things to the bottom. hopes to find a monument of antiquity; Not thou, nor they shall search the thoughts, that roll The classic explores the learning and wisdom of the Hector, he said, my courage bids me meet TO DISCUSS, EXAMINE. Discuss, in Latin discussus, participle of discutio, signifies to shake asunder or to separate thoroughly so as to see the whole composition; examine has the same signification as in the preceding article, because the judgement holds the balance in examining. The intellectual operation expressed by these terms is applied to objects that cannot be immediately discerned or understood, but they vary both in mode and degree. Discussion is altogether carried on by verbal A person who pries looks into that which does not belong to him; and too narrowly also into that which may belong to him; it is the consequence of a too eager curiosity or a busy, meddling temper: a person who scrutinizes looks into that which is intentionally concealed from him; it is an act of duty flowing out of his office a person who dives penetrates into that which lies hidden very deep; he is impelled to this action by the thirst of knowledge and a laudable curiosity. A love of prying into the private affairs of families makes a person a troublesome neighbour; The peaceable man never officiously seeks to pry into the secrets of others.' BLAIR. It is the business of the magistrate to scrutinize into all matters which affect the good order of society; He who enters upon this scrutiny (into the depths of the mind) enters into a labyrinth." SOUTH. There are some minds so imbued with a love of science that they delight to dive into the secrets of nature; In man the more we dive, the more we see, The disposition to interest one's self in matters not of immediate concern to one's self is the idea common to all these terms. Curiosity is directed to all objects that can gratify the inclination, taste, or understanding; inquisitiveness to such things only as satisfy the understanding. The curious person interests himself in all the works of nature and art; he is curious to try effects and examine causes: the inquisitive person endeavours to add to his store of knowledge. Curiosity employs every means which falls in its way in order to procure gratification; the curious man uses his own powers or those of others to serve his purpose; inquisitiveness is indulged only by means of verbal inquiry; the inquisitive person collects all from others. A traveller is curious who examines every thing for himself; 'Sir Francis Bacon says, some have been so curious as to remark the times and seasons, when the stroke of an envious eye is most effectually pernicious. STEELE. He is inquisitive when he minutely questions others. Inquisitiveness is therefore to curiosity as a part to the whole; whoever is curious will naturally be inquisitive, and he who is inquisitive is so from a species of curiosity; but inquisitiveness may sometimes be taken in an improper sense for moral objects; Checking our inquisitive solicitude about what the Almighty hath concealed, let us diligently improve what he hath made known.' BLAIR. Curious and inquisitive may be both used in a bad sense; prying is never used otherwise than in a bad sense. Inquisitive, as in the former case, is a mode of curiosity, and prying is a species of eager curiosity. A curious person takes unallowed means of learning that which he ought not to wish to know; an inquisitive person puts many impertinent and troublesome questions; a prying temper is unceasing in its endeavours to get acquainted with the secrets of others. Curiosity is a fault common to females; inquisitiveness is most general among children; a prying temper belongs only to people of low character. A well-disciplined mind checks the first risings of idle curiosity: children should be taught early to suppress an inquisitive temper, which may so easily become burdensome to others: those who are of a prying temper are insensible to every thing but the desire of unveiling what lies hidden; such a disposition is often engendered by the unlicensed indulgence of curiosity in early life, which becomes a sort of passion in riper years; By adhering tenaciously to his opinion, and exhibiting other instances of a prying disposition, Lord George Sackville had rendered himself disagreeable to the commander in chief." SMOLLET. 6 CONCEIT, FANCY. Conceit comes immediately from the Latin conceptus, participle of concipio to conceive or form in the mind; fancy, in French phantasie, Latin phantasia, Greek pavtaría, from pavráta to make appear, and paiva to appear. These terms equally express the working of the imagination in its distorted state; but conceit denotes a much greater degree of distortion than fancy: what we conceit is preposterous; what we fancy is unreal, or only apparent. unreal, or only apparent. Conceit applies only to internal objects; it is mental in the operation and the result; it is a species of invention; Strong conceit like a new principle, carries all easily with it, when yet above common sense.' LOCKE. Fancy is applied to external objects, or whatever acts on the senses: nervous people are subject to strange conceits; timid people fancy they hear sounds, or see objects in the dark which awaken terror. Those who are apt to conceit oftener conceit that which is painful than otherwise; Some have been wounded with conceit, And died of mere opinion strait. BUTLER. Conceiting either that they are always in danger of dying, or that all the world is their enemy. There are however insane people who conceit themselves to be kings and queens; and some indeed who are not called insane, who conceit themselves very learned whilst they know nothing, or very wise and clever, while they are exposing themselves to perpetual ridicule for their folly, or very handsome while the world always quarrelling with their neighbours, or very humcalls them plain, or very peaceable while they are ble whilst they are tenaciously stickling for their own: it would be well if such conceits afforded a harmless pleasure to their authors, but unfortunately they only render them more offensive and disgusting than they would otherwise be. Those who are apt to fancy, never fancy any thing to please themselves; Desponding fear, of feeble fancies full, Weak and unmanly, loosens every power. THOMSON. They fancy that things are too long or too short, too thick or too thin, too cold or too hot, with a thousand other fancies equally trivial in their nature; thereby proving that the slightest aberration of the mind is a serious evil, and productive of evil. When taken in reference to intellectual objects, conceit is mostly in a bad sense; Nothing can be more plainly impossible than for a man "to be profitable to God," and consequently nothing can be more absurd than for a man to cherish so irrational a conceit.' ADDISON. But fancy may be employed in a good sense; My friend, Sir Roger de Coverley, told me t'other day, that he had been reading my paper upon Westminster Abbey, in which, says he, there are a great many ingenious fancies.' ADDISON. 6 OPINIATED OR OPINIATIVE, CON CEITED, EGOISTICAL. A fondness for one's opinion bespeaks the opiniated man: a fond conceit of one's self bespeaks the conceited man: a fond attachment to one's self bespeaks the egoistical man: a liking for one's self or one's own is evidently the common idea that runs through these terms; they differ in the mode and in the object. An opiniated man is not only fond of his own opinion, but full of his own opinion: he has an opinion on every thing, which is the best possible opinion, and is delivered therefore freely to every one, that they may profit in forming their own opinions; Down was he cast from all his greatness, as it is pity but all such politick opiniators should.' SOUTH. Å conceited man has a conceit or an idle, fond opinion of his own talent; it is not only high in competition with others, but it is so high as to be set above others. The conceited man does not want to follow the ordinary means of acquiring knowledge: his conceit suggests to him that his talent will supply labor, application, reading and study, and every other contrivance which men have commonly employed for their improvement; he sees by intuition what another learns by experience and observation; he knows in a day what others want years to acquire; he learns of himself what others are contented to get by means of instruction; No great measure at a very difficult crisis can be pursued which is not attended with some mischief; none but conceited pretenders in publick business hold any other language.' BURKE. The egoistical man makes himself the darling theme of his own contemplation; he admires and loves himself to that degree that he can talk and think of nothing else; his children, his house, his garden, his rooms, and the like, are the incessant theme of his conversation, and become invaluable from the mere circumstance of belonging to him; To show their particular aversion to speaking in the first person, the gentlemen of Port Royal branded this form of writing with the name of egotism.' ADDISON. 6 An opiniated man is the most unfit for conversation, which only affords pleasure by an alternate and equable communication of sentiment. A conceited man is the most unfit for co-operation, where a junction of talent and effort is essential to bring things to a conclusion; an egoistical man is the most unfit to be a companion or friend, for he does not know how to value or like any thing out of himself. SELF-WILL, SELF-CONCEIT, SELF- Self-will signifies the will in one's self: self-conceit, conceit of one's self: self-sufficiency, sufficiency in one's self. As characteristics they come very near to each other, but that depravity of the will which refuses to submit to every control either within or without is born with a person, and is among the earliest indications of character; in some it is less pre- The injuries that they themselves procur'd, The self-conceited person is always much concerned about right and wrong, but it is only that which he conceives to be right and wrong; Nothing so haughty and assuming as ignorance, where self-conceit bids it set up for infallible.' SOUTH. Self-sufficiency is a species of self-conceit applied to action: as a selfconceited person thinks of no opinion but his own; a self-sufficient person refuses the assistance of every one in whatever he is called upon to do; There safe in self-sufficient impudence PRIDE, VANITY, CONCEIT. JENYNS. Pride is in all probability connected with the word parade, and the German pracht show or splendor, as it signifies that high-flown temper in a man which makes him paint to himself every thing in himself as beautiful or splendid; vanity, in Latin vanitas, from vain and vanus, is compounded of ve or valde and inanis, signifying exceeding emptiness; conceit signifies the same as in the preceding article (v. Conceit, Fancy). The valuing of one's self on the possession of any property is the idea common to these terms, but they differ either in regard to the object or the manner of the action. Pride is the term of most extensive im port and application, and comprehends in its signification not only that of the other two terms, but likewise ideas peculiar to itself. Pride is applicable to every object, good or bad, high or low, small or great; vanity is applicable only to small objects: pride is therefore good or bad; vanity is always bad, it is always emptiness or nothing ness. A man is proud who values himself on the possession of his literary or scientific talent, on his wealth, on his rank, on his power, on his acquirements, or his superiority over his competitors; he is vain of his person, his dress, his walk, or any thing that is frivolous. Pride is the inherent quality in man; and while it rests on noble objects, it is his noblest characteristic; vanity is the distortion of one's nature flowing from a vicious constitution or education: pride shows itself variously according to the nature of the object on which it is fixed; a noble pride seeks to display itself in all that can command |