A Dictionary of Cont..

known by the cognomen of Golf-bag Sam). It
is hard to see, however, what advantages it
offers over nume. If used seriously, it seems
stilted. If used humorously, it seems ponde:rous.
cognoscenti. The use of cognoscenti for “the
knowing ones” shows that the user regards
himself as among them, for hardly anyone else
could be expected to know the term. It is limited
in application to connoisseurs of artistic matters.
(The cognoscenti had hailed his genius
long before the masses knew his name). The
singular-though the tribe seems to exist entirely
in the plural-is cognoscente.
coherence is natural or logical connection, consistency,
particularly as applied to thouglht or
language. The word is a figurative extension of
cohesion, which means a sticking together in a
physical sense. It is the quality which gives
speech or writing its order and logic. Ideas are
presented coherently if they are in an order
which makes sense.
Coherence is achieved by the arrangement of
words in a sentence, sentences in a paragraph,
and paragraphs in a composition so as to bring
out properly the relationship of ideas. The
essential elements of coherent construction
are correct connective words and transitional
phrases, precise reference of pronouns, and clear
word order.
There must be subjects and predicates in sentences
and they should agree in number. Sentences
and paragraphs are presented in coherent
relationships by means of reference words (the
former, the latter, the last-named), of reperition
of ideas in either the same or different words, of
conjunctions (and, but), of conjunctive adverbs
(also, however, indeed, as a matter of fact), and
of pronouns.
It is possible to write coherent sentences and
coherent paragraphs without achieving a coherent
whole. Where such a situation exists, however,
it is likely that the speaker is confused in
thought or has not been able to come to a definite
conclusion in his thought.
cohort was one of the ten divisions in an ancient
Roman legion, numbering from 300 to 600 men.
In historical writing it still means that. In
general use it means any group of warriors or
just any group or company.
It is occasionally misapplied to single persons,
especially an accomplice or an assistant (Banting
[was] assisted by his young cohort, Dr.
Charles H. Best. The culprit and his three
cohorts quickly confessed). Perhaps this error
is based on a false analogy to co-worker.
coign of vantage is a projecting corner on a castle
or fortification which would make an advantageous
observation point. The phrase comes :from
a minor scene in Macbeth. As King Duncan and
his party are entering the fatal castle they remark
on the pleasantness of its location and the
softness of the air. Banquo notes that a great
many martlets have made their nests on the
castle walls: No futty, frieze,/ Buttress, nor
coign of vantage,/ but is covered with them.
Sir Walter Scott picked up the phrase (with
acknowledgement) two hundred years later in
99 collective
The Heart of Midlothian and, for some reason,
it caught on and became a popular phrase and
remains an overpopular one, although vantage
is obsolete and coign unknown.
coincident. See synchronous.
coiner. See counterfeiter.
cold blood. The association of heat with passion
is very old and has left its impress on many
phrases (hot-tempered) as has, also, the belief
that the blood is in some way the seat of emotions.
In this day of clinical thermometers,
plasma, and psychoanalysis most of the old
phrases seem ludicrous and have fallen into
disuse. Hot-blooded (Why, the hot-blooded
France, that dowerless took/ Our youngest
born.. .) is not much heard any more, but coldblooded,
describing the deliberate and cruel
performance of some unpleasant act, is still
common. To act in cold blood is tedious through
repetition and meaningless to most who use it.
cold light of reason (a little chillier than the pale
cast of thought) is often the dawn of the morning
after for those who have looked on the wine
when it was red or loved not wisely but too well.
One cliche merely follows another.
cold shoulder. As a term for letting someone know
that he is not wanted, give the cold shoulder has
been so restricted by usage in recent years to the
discouragement of amatory advances that the
phrase is assumed to describe a female shoulder
coldly or disdainfully shrugged or drawn away
in distaste. It derives, however, from the custom
of offering honored guests hot meat and serving
those who had outstayed their welcome with a
cold shoulder of mutton. This became proverbial
and overuse has made it a cliche. It should be
used with care.
collaborate together. Since collaborate means to
work, one with another, collaborate together is
redundant.
collation. See repast.
collective nouns. Strictly speaking, a collective is
a singular noun with a plural meaning, But the
term is used loosely by many grammarians and
may be applied to almost any noun that is not
clearly singular or clearly plural.
There are three ways in which a noun may be
singular in one respect and plural in another.
These are discussed in this dictionary under the
following heads.
1. GROUP NAMES. Some nouns, such as jury,
family, herd, name a group of separate individuals.
When such a group is thought of as a unit,
the group name is followed by a singular verb,
as in my family is a large one. When the group
is thought of as a number of individuals, a
plural verb is used, as in my family are early
risers. Words of this kind are sometimes called
nouns of multitude. See group names.
2. GENERIC NOUNS. A singular noun may be
used in speaking of all the individuals of a
certain kind, as in the whale is a mammal and
man is mortal. See generic nouns.
3. MASS NOUNS. Some nouns, such as butter,
milk, clothes, munitions, riches, are neither
singular nor plural in meaning but name an un-