_The Obsolete Word "Prenzie."_--I agree with your correspondent LEGES,
that the several emendations which have been suggested of the word
"prenzie," do not "answer all the necessary conditions." LEGES says,
"it is universally agreed that the word is a misprint."[5] Now
misprinting may be traced to wrong letters being dropped in the boxes
into which compositors put the types, and which generally are found to
be neighbours (this is hardly intelligible but to the initiated).
However, _they_ will at once see that a more unfortunate illustration
could hardly have been suggested. An error, made by the printer, often
passes "the reader" or corrector, because it is something, in appearance
and sound, like what should have been used. But in this word there is no
assimilation of either to any one of the words conjectured to have been
meant. Moreover, such a word would never have been _twice_ used
erroneously in the same piece. May it not rather have been an adaptation
from the Norman _prisé_, or the Latin _prenso_, signifying _assumed_,
_seized_, &c.? The _sound_ comes much nearer, the _sense_ would do. I
hardly like to venture a suggestion where so many eminent commentators
entertain other views; but it seems to me that it is a main excellence
of your periodical to encourage such suggestions; and if mine be not too
wild, your insertion of it will oblige