The Word «Scientist»
Some of our English purists carp at the word scientist as an Americanism of recent introduction. If an Americanism it is a creditable one and a legitimate and needed word. It is quite as legitimate as jurist, annalist; for if the excuse for those words be that they come to us through the French, the question arises why have not the Americans as much right to make a derivation as the French? Having the Latin Seiens, Scienfis for a basis, why can we not form the word scientist as legitimately as the French can their annaliste from annalist? The word scientist is too firmly fixed in public use and favor to be ousted from the language by the conservatives who would confine us to the words which Samuel Johnson admitted into his dictionary. In “Webster’s Unabridged” we find scientist fully endorsed. It does not appear however, in “Worcester's Dictionary,” but the latter admits the old word scient, meaning “skilful knowing.” Surely scientists as euphonious a word as physicist, and the latter is not only admitted by Worcester, but is largely used by those of our English brethren who are still shy of using scientist. Popular usage has shown that the word is wanted, and we have no fear that it will ever become an exile. If it be objected that ist is a Greek suffix, and must be applied only to words from the Greek, like botanist, physicist, the reply is, that the rule has been broken too often in the formation of English words to be now rigidly enforced in the case of scientist. And so we shall continue to fly our flag, whatever the philologists may say.
Madame Helen P. Blavatsky
Madame Helen P. Blavatskv, of whom Gen. Lippitt makes honorable mention in his interesting account of the painting by John King, in our last week's number, is a Russian lady of rank, at present resident in Philadelphia. She is a niece of the late Countess Hahn-Hahn, well-known in literature; and is not only one of the most prominent Spiritualists of our day, but a lady of the highest culture. She writes and speaks English with the facility and accuracy of a native, and during her brief residence in this country she has commended herself to the esteem and admiration of a large and increasing circle of our most intelligent Spiritualist. Of her noble and disinterested efforts in advancing the cause of spiritual truth, not only by fearlessly witnessing to it, but by material aid and co-operation, we will not speak now. Our readers may soon look for contributions from her pen; and they may be sure that whatever she writes will be well worth, the reading.
<Untitled> (Within our own human hearts)
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Damaged Terminology
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Bell Omen
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Death and Sleep
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<Untitled> (Says the Pall Mall Gazette)
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Editor's notes
- ↑ The Word «Scientist» by unknown author, Spiritual Scientist, v. 2, No. 9, May 6, 1875, p. 102
- ↑ Madame Helen P. Blavatsky by unknown author, Spiritual Scientist, v. 2, No. 9, May 6, 1875, p. 99
- ↑ Within our own human hearts by Hardinge, E.
- ↑ Damaged Terminology by Maudsley, H.
- ↑ Bell Omen by unknown author. Signed: Quoted in Chambers's Book of Days
- ↑ Death and Sleep by unknown author
- ↑ Says the Pall Mall Gazette by unknown author
Sources
Spiritual Scientist, v. 2, No. 9, May 6, 1875, p. 102
Spiritual Scientist, v. 2, No. 9, May 6, 1875, p. 99