A Dictionary of Cont..

of them very strange avenues indeed. Sir Alan
Herbert quotes from the preface to a cookbook
a statement that, in the interests of advancing
our knowledge of nutrition, a trapdoor
had been fitted in the stomach of a cow
in order that her digestive processes might be
observed. The preface assured the reader that
every avenue had been explored. Well, one
may doubt the avenue but certainly not the
exploration.
The phrase will be avoided by the sensible
because it is absurd and by the sensitive because
it is a clich&
average; common; ordinary; typical; mean. An
average is an arithmetical mean, a quantity
intermediate to a set of quantities. If there
are two bushels, one weighing 56 lbs. and one
weighing 58 lbs., the average is 57 lbs., though
it is to be noted that the average, in this
example (as in so many others), is nonexistent.
Common is that which belongs equally
to all or is shared alike, as a common denominator.
It marks things which are widespread,
familiar, and usual. It is generally
synonymous with ordinary. Typical is that
which marks a type. The mean is that which
is intermediate between extremes.
It should be plain, then, that average should
not be used as a synonym for comm,on,
ordinary, typical, or mean. One often hears of
the average man, when the common ([or
ordinary) man is intended. The typical Norwegian,
for example, is thought of as blond.
But since there are many brunettes in Norway,
the average would be between light and dark
and hence in no way typical.
Since everyone strives to be superior and
most forms of courtesy gratify our wish to be
thought unusual and excellent, common and
ordinary have acquired a slightly derogatory
meaning. Since they are synonyms, it is redundant
to use them together, but common
ordinary is widely used colloquially.
averse; adverse; aversion. Both adjectives averse
and adverse mean opposed. Adverse winds or
adverse circumstances are winds or circumstances
opposed to those we would like,
Averse means disinclined or reluctant and
this introduction of the idea of feelings is the
chief distinction. We claim to be averse to
flattery and despise barbarians for being averse
to learnireg. What female heart can gold despise?/Whnt
Cut’s averse to fish? asked Gray.
An adverse witness is averse to testifying in
our favor.
Averse may be followed by from or to, with
exactly the same meaning, as in men averse
from war and men averse to wur. Both forms
have a long literary history and both are acceptable
today, but to is generally preferred.
Aversion may also be followed by from, but
this is rarely heard today. It is more often
used with to or for. Both words may be followed
by the -ing form of a verb introduced
by a preposition, as in averse to fighting, an
aversion to fighting. Averse may also be fol-
49 avouch
lowed by an infinitive, as in we are not averse
to acknowledge. The -ing form is heard more
often.
aviator; aviatress; aviatrix. An aviator is one who
pilots an airplane. In the early days when a
woman’s doing it seemed amazing it was
thought necessary to emphasize her sex, but
aviatress and aviatrix are falling into disuse
and the one word applies to all.
avid, keenly desirous, greedy, intensely eager, is
a word more often read than heard. And
because of its meaning of excessive desire, it
is well to use it sparingly. All men desire
praise, but only a few are avid for it and the
word should be reserved for them.
avocation; vocation. In America the older meanings
of the words are kept: A man’s vocation
is his ordinary occupation, business, or profession
(that particular state or function to
which it has pleased God to call him). His
avocation is that which calls him away from
his vocation-some minor occupation or
hobby.
Colloquially in America and more frequently
in England, avocation is sometimes used as if
it meant vocation, but this is wrong.
Vocational has acquired a special meaning
in education. Vocational guidance means guidance
in selecting one’s life work. It can, and
usually does, mean that a student with the
ability and inclination is advised to enter one
of the professions. But a vocational school
means a school, often a high school, that
teaches its students “practical” courses-manual
training, home economics, stenography,
automobile repairing, and the like. A vocational
school is a trade school, a terminal
school. In this sense the word has come a
long way from its original meaning of “calling.”
Vocation was at first a calling from
God, such as that experienced by the youthful
Samuel, and for a long time it was applied
only to a religious occupation and was conceived
as something wholly apart from ability
or inclination. There had to be a definite
supernatural summons before one entered the
ministry and the word vocation (and especially
its homely translation “calling”) still has this
meaning in some of its uses. But it is hard to
conceive of any supernatural injunction to
repair cars or to fix television sets. See also
calling, business.
avoid. This word may be followed by the -ing
form of a verb, as in he avoided saying. It
could once be followed by an infinitive, as in
he avoided to say, but this is now obsolete.
avoid like the plague. See plague.
avouch; avow; vouch for. To nvouch is to assert
positively, to assume responsibility for, to
guarantee (His death was avouched by three
separate messengers). The word is now falling
into disuse and is generally replaced by the
phrase vouch for.
To avow is to declare frankly or openly
(The Senator avowed his devotion to his constituenfs)
.