A Dictionary of Cont..

ways. Either can be used in speaking of only
two or in speaking of a larger number. We may
say the two men shook hands with one anofher
and the people in the room all knew each other.
The claim that one another should not be used
in speaking of only two and that each other
should not be used in speaking of more than
two is an attempt to improve on the language
and not a report of how the words are used or
have been used in the past.
Both expressions have a genitive form, as
each other’s, one another’s Both can be used in
any object position, as they knew one another
and gave each other presents. But neither expression
can be used as the subject of a verb.
We cannot say we know what each other thinks,
we know how one another is getting along. In
statements of this kind, the each should be
attached to the subject word, as in we each know
what the other thinks and how the other is getting
along.
eager. See anxious.
early; soon. Early was first an adverb but it developed
adjective uses more than seven hundred
years ago. It is now used in both ways, as in
the early bird and start early.
That is early which comes before the usual
or appointed time. Soon means within a short
period after a definite time or event (He arrived
early and had to waif for the others, but once
the clock had struck they soon appeared). In
reference to a future event, early means in the
near future (An early date has been set for the
wedding), soon means the same (They will soon
be married).
earth; globe; world. Earth is the word of commonest
use and at the same time, because of its
literary and especially its Biblical associations,
the most dignified (The earth is the Lord’s, and
the fulness thereof. 0 mother Earth! The earth
abideth for ever). It is used especially in speaking
of a condition of existence contrasted with
that in heaven or in hell (While we are yet on
earth, let us be mindful, etc. This earthly life).
Globe was used as a synonym when the roundness
of the earth first began to impress itself
upon men’s minds (to circumnavigate the globe.
. . . the great globe itself,/ Yea, all which it inherit,
shall dissolve). It is coming, however, to
be used with increasing frequency to refer to the
inhabitants of the earth and their general activities,
though world is the commoner of the two
words in such a meaning (The whole world
hopes for peace). This world serves, like earth,
to distinguish the terrestrial state from the celestial
or infernal (We give too much thought to
ihe r/zings of this world) and sometimes just
world carries the same meaning (The world is
too much with us).
earthen; earthly; earthy; global; mundane; terrestrial;
worldly. Earthen means composed of
earth, made of baked clay (an earthen pitcher).
Earthly means of this earth as opposed to
heaven (our earthly existence, the earthly paradise,
all earthly things above), Earthy means of
the nature of or characteristic of earth as a
material substance (The cellar WUJ damp and
149 eat
had an earthy smell). I Corinthians 15:47 says
that The first man is of the earth, earthy and
the latter part of this famous passage has become
a cliche meaning, usually, that someone
is broad in his speech.
Global, an adjective so much used now as to
be almost a vogue word, means pertaining to
the whole earth (Global strategy requires, etc.
. . . Those who are global minded are aware,
etc. . . .).
Terrestrial is the Latin equivalent of earthly.
It applies to the earth as a planet, to it as a place
distinct from heaven (which in smooth parlance
is referred to as celestial when opposed to terrestrial),
and to the land surface of the earth as
opposed to the watery surface (The terrestrial
area of the earth’s surface covers 57,469,928
square miles).
Worldly is commonly used in a derogatory
sense of being concerned with material, earthly
matters, vanity, social position, and the like, to
the exclusion of spiritual interests or thoughts of
the life to come (Our sense of the vanity of
worldly honors increases as we grow older).
Mundane is the Latin equivalent of worldly. It
suggests that which is bound to the earth, not
exalted, and therefore commonplace (Entangled
with the birdlime of fleshly passions and mundane
vanity. It was a mundane affair).
east. The adjective may be east or eastern. There
is only one comparative form, more eastern, and
one superlative form, easfernmost.
east; orient. In British usage the easf is a common
term for Asia (Once did She hold the gorgeous
east in fee); whereas the orient is poetic and
literary. Americans know and use the east in this
sense (the mysterious wisdom of the East) and
are sufficiently aware of it to feel that the west
(which would, for them, be a more accurate
term) would be inappropriate. Then to most
Americans the East means the Atlantic seaboard
states, especially the northern ones, and the West
means the states from the Rockies to the Pacific.
So that in American usage the orient is a practical,
everyday word for Eastern Asia (He was
sent as consul to the Orient).
easy; easily. Easy can always be used to qualify
a noun, as in a green and easy world. The form
easily is used only as an adverb and cannot
qualify a noun. Easy is sometimes used as an
adverb, as in take it easy. This construction is
acceptable spoken English, in the United States
and in Great Britain, but it does not appear in
formal writing. At one time the comparative and
superlative forms of easy could also be used as
adverbs, as in all the easier led away by bad examples,
and fhe good man can easiest persuade
himself that God is good. These constructions
are now condemned in Great Britain. In the
United States they would merely be considered
bookish or affected. See also facile.
eat. The past tense is ate. The participle is eaten.
In Great Britain the past tense is pronounced
er. It is usually spelled ate, but the spelling eat is
also acceptable there.
Ate used as a participle, as in had ate, was
once literary English but is no longer considered