Discussion Groups / English Usage / May 2009

Mark Brader skrev:

"For which" is probably better than "in which", but not as good as "where".

[...]

It's too late at night for me to go a-googling, but while I agree with
the other examples you give (and I snipped), I rather think this Henry
Wotton example may be using the literal sense: "proficiency in the
language of hunting and horsemanship".

If you feel like looking for the original, note that the volume in
question would be his posthumous /Reliquiae Wottonianae/, with
Educational Aphorisms included: OED's "in" is Roman, not Italic.

OT, it was Wotton, I think, who coined the one about an ambassador being
sent "to lie abroad for his country".

It's common enough, but I'm doubtful about this "sense". I would say it is
meaningless nonsense inserted as verbal padding.

This seems to be the literal use, about vain people "pleasing
themselves more in opinion of some proficiency, in terms of hunting or
horsemanship, which few that are studious understand, than they blush
to be known ignorant in that which every man ought to know."  I don't
know any terms of hunting or horsemanship that few who are studious
understand, but I take this to mean something like, "As a player at
cards he clears every fence," talking over the head of the studious
person.

I've reproduced the aphorism and comment below for those who like
challenges. "Able to show"?

This is certainly the literal sense.  If you say the resistance is
that of 4.08 yards of a certain wire, you've stated it in terms of
that wire.

This one looks like the "vaguely having something to do with" sense,
but I can't say I understand it either.

http://books.google.com/books?id=6xEvAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA265

This one's not clear to me; maybe it's on the border between the two
senses.

http://books.google.com/books?id=WRkMAAAAIAAJ&pg=RA1-PA443

Here's the promised bit of Wotton:

"_Somewhat of a gentleman gives a tincture to a scholar; too much
stains him._

"He who advised the philosopher (altogether devoted to the Muses)
sometimes to offer sacrifice at the altars of the Graces, thought
knowledge to be imperfect without behavior, which experience confirms,
able to show, that the want thereof breeds as much disrespect to many
scholars with the observers of ceremonies, as improper affectation
moves distaste in some substantial judgments. Indeed slovenliness is
the worst sign of a hard student, and civility the best exercise of
the remiss; yet not to be exact in the phrase of compliment, or
gestures of courtesy, the indifferent do pardon to those who have been
otherwise busied; and rather deride, than applaud such, who think it
perfection enough to have a good outside, sad happiness to be seen
amongst those who have better; pleasing themselves more in opinion of
some proficiency, in terms of hunting or horsemanship, which few that
are studious understand, than they blush to be known ignorant in that
which every man ought to know. To which vanity I have known none more
inclined than those whose birth did neither require, nor fortunes
encourage them to such costly idleness ; who at length made sensible
by necessity, haply have the grace to repent, but seldom times the
gift to recover."

http://books.google.com/books?id=hmtLAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA139

Assuming they copied it right.

--
Jerry Friedman