=Gallivating=, not _gallivanting_. Gallivanting is a word that is
used to some extent, being applied to persons that are roaming
about for amusement or adventure; as, "this young man has been
_gallivanting_ around." If it is a corruption of _gallanting_,
it should certainly be abolished as a vulgarism; but if it is a
corruption of _gallivating_, from _gallivat_, the name of a
small sailing vessel, it might be clothed in its proper garb
and retained as a useful word in our language. If either is
used, the one above preferred should be chosen, at any rate.
=Gallows=--găl´lus, not găl´lōz. =Gallowses=, plural.
=Gamin=--ga-măng´, not găm´in nor gā´min. A street child.
=Gape=--gäpe or gāpe, not găp.
=Gargle.= One _gargles_, not _gurgles_, the throat.
=Gaseous=--găz´e-us, not găss-e-us. Worcester gives
gā´ze-us too.
=Gather=--găth´er, not gĕth´er.
=Genealogy=--jĕn-e-ăl´o-jy, not jē-ne-ăl´o-jy nor
je-ne-ŏl´o-jy.
=Genealogist= (jĕn-e-ăl´o-jist), =genealogical=
(jĕn-e-a-lŏj´i-kal) and =genealogically=
(jĕn-e-a-lŏj´i-kal-ly).
=Generic=--je-nĕr´ik, not jĕn´er-ik, nor je-nē´rik.
Relating to a genus, or kind.
=Gerund=--jĕr´und, not jē-rund. A kind of verbal noun in
Latin.
=Get=, not gĭt.
=Giaour=--jowr, not gī´ōōr, jī-owr´ nor jōōr.
An epithet applied by the Turks to a disbeliever in Mahomet;
the name of one of Byron's poems.
=Gibbet=--jĭb´bet, not gĭb´bet.
=Glamour=--glā´mōōr, not glăm´mur. Worcester gives
glā´mer, also. A charm in the eyes, making them see things
differently from what they really are.
=Gneiss=--nīs, not nēs nor gnēs. A kind of rock.
=Gondola=--gŏn´do-la, not gon-dō´la.
=Got.= There are some sticklers for niceties that overdo
themselves in contending that the use of the verb _got_ is
generally unnecessary and incorrect in conjunction with _have_
and _had_. Get means to procure, to obtain, to come into
possession of, etc., and it is a very tame assertion that one
simply _has_ a thing that cost much mental or physical labor. A
scholar _has_ his lesson, but did it creep into his head while
he passively shut his eyes and went to sleep? On the contrary,
he _got_ it or learned it by hard study, and it is proper to
say that he has _got_ it. A man _has_ a cold, but he _got_ it
or _took_ it by exposing himself. A person _has_ a sum of
money, but he _got_ or _earned_ it by his labor. Another _has_
good friends, but he _got_ or _secured_ them by his pleasant
address. The great causes of the warfare against this word are,
I think, that _have_ and _had_, though generally used as
auxiliaries, can sometimes be used as principal verbs and make
good sense; and that it has not been recollected that in the
majority of cases _got_ either stands for, or can be
substituted for another verb. In confirmation of this last
statement, is appended the following composed by Dr. Withers:
"I _got_ on horseback within ten minutes after I _got_ your
letter. When I _got_ to Canterbury, I _got_ a chaise for town,
but I _got_ wet before I _got_ to Canterbury; and I have _got_
such a cold as I shall not be able to _get_ rid of in a hurry.
I _got_ to the Treasury about noon, but first of all I _got_
shaved and dressed. I soon _got_ into the secret of getting a
memorial before the board, but I could not _get_ an answer
then; however, I _got_ intelligence from the messenger, that I
should most likely _get_ one the next morning. As soon as I
_got_ back to my inn, I _got_ my supper and _got_ to bed. It
was not long before I _got_ asleep. When I _got_ up in the
morning, I _got_ my breakfast, and then I _got_ myself dressed
that I might _get_ out in time to _get_ an answer to my
memorial. As soon as I _got_ it, I _got_ into the chaise and
_got_ to Canterbury by three, and about tea-time, I got home. I
have _got_ nothing for you, and so adieu."
Applying this test of substitution to any doubtful case, I think
it right to assert that if there is no other verb, or
participle, that will appropriately take the place of "got,"
the latter word is _unnecessary_; but it should hardly be
considered as an error, as it is so slight an impropriety
compared with many others that are allowed, and especially
because we have long had the usage of many of the best writers
to sanction the employment of the word. The very people that
appear to be so shocked at the use of the superfluous _got_,
may generally be heard making use of such expressions as "fell
_down_ upon the ground," "rose _up_ and went away," "covered it
_over_," and "a great, _big_ fire." The _down_, _up_, _over_
and _big_ are certainly superfluities, but they have been heard
so long that they are seldom mentioned as errors.
=Gourmand=--gōōr´mänd, not gôr´mand, unless the orthography
=gormand= is used.
=Gout=--gowt, not gōōt, as actors are sometimes heard
pronounce it in the following line from Macbeth: "On thy blade
and dudgeon, _gouts_ of blood."
=Government=--gŭv´ern-ment not gŭv´er-ment. It is a
mistake, frequently made, to write and pronounce the word as if
it had no "n" in the penultimate.
=Gramercy=--gra-mër´sy, not grăm´er-sy. A word formerly used
to express thankfulness with surprise.
=Granary=--grăn´a-ry, not grā´na-ry. There are no such
words as _grainery_ and _grainary_.
=Gratis=--grā´tis, not grăt-is.
=Grenade=--gre-nāde´, not grĕn´ade. A kind of explosive
shell.
=Guardian=--gärd´ĭ-an, not gär-dē´an.
=Guerdon=--gër´don, not gwĕr´don nor jĕr´don. A reward; a
recompense.
=Guild=--gĭld, not gīld. A society; a fraternity.
=Guipure=--ge-pūr´, not gĭm-pūre´ nor gwĭ-pūre´.
An imitation of antique lace.
=Gunwale=--commonly pronounced gŭn´nel and spelled so
sometimes.
=Gutta-percha=--gŭt´ta-për´cha, not gŭt´ta-për´ka.
=Gyrfalcon=--jër´faw-kn, not jēr´făl-kun.