To lack in/to a deplorable/considerable degree

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Marius Hancu - 04 Jan 2004 04:29 GMT

Hello:

Wrt the CAPITALIZED expression:

-------
But after a moment we shall perceive that if at nineteen Pansy has
become a young lady, she does not really fill out the part; that if
she has grown very pretty, she LACKS IN A DEPLORABLE DEGREE the
quality known and esteemed in the appearance of females as style; and
that if she is dressed with great freshness, she wears her smart
attire with an undisguised appearance of saving it?very much as if it
were lent her for the occasion.
[Henry James, Portrait of a Lady, Ch 37]
--------

I would have said "lacks TO a deplorable degree" and this seems to be
confirmed by frequency on Web searches. Wonder if this has changed in
time (since 1881) and if there has ever been a flexibility in place wrt
using "in/to" in this expression in BrE and AmE.

Thank you in advance.
Marius Hancu

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Larry Trask - 04 Jan 2004 17:07 GMT

> Hello:
>
[quoted text clipped - 15 lines]
> time (since 1881) and if there has ever been a flexibility in place wrt
> using "in/to" in this expression in BrE and AmE.

I too would say 'to'. But I simply don't know if 'in' was usual or
common at some time in the past.

Larry Trask
larryt@sussex.ac.uk

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Marius Hancu - 04 Jan 2004 21:24 GMT

> I too would say 'to'. But I simply don't know if 'in' was usual or
> common at some time in the past.

Henry James uses "in" in other similar contexts:

----------
Isabel was perfectly aware that she had not taken the measure of
Pansy's tenacity, which might prove to be inconveniently great; but
she inclined to think the young girl would not be tenacious, for she
had the faculty of assent developed IN a very much higher degree than
that of resistance.
-----------

Thank you very much.

Marius Hancu

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Discussion Groups / English Usage / January 2004

To lack in/to a deplorable/considerable degree