=Wake=, etc. _Wake_ is both a transitive and an intransitive
verb. Present tense, _wake_; imperfect and past participle,
_waked_; present participle, _waking_. _Awake_ is also both
transitive and intransitive. Present, _awake_; imperfect,
_awoke_ or _awaked_; participles, _awaked_ and _awaking_.
_Awaken_ is another verb, both transitive and intransitive.
Present, _awaken_; imperfect and past participle, _awakened_;
present participle, _awakening_. Thus it is seen that we have a
great many words to express the fact of _being_ in a conscious
state, and the arousing of a person who is asleep. With a
little attention there is no reason for committing an error in
the use of these words. One may say that he _waked_, _awoke_,
or _awakened_ early in the morning, but it is wrong to say that
he _woke_ in the morning, or that he _woke_ another; for there
is no such word as _woke_. "I _wakened_ at five o'clock,"
should be, "I _awakened_ at five o'clock;" for there is no such
word as _wakened_. _Up_ is used only with _wake_, _waked_ and
_waking_, but even then it is one of our most senseless
superfluities. There is no stronger meaning in the assertion
that a man was _waked up_, than that he was _waked_ or
_awakened_. If _waking up_ meant to _wake_ and make _get up_,
it would be different, but it does not. One may be _waked up_
and it is just as likely that he will go to sleep again as if
he were simply _awakened_. _Awake_ and _awaken_ are more
elegant words than _wake_.
=Wassail=--wŏs´sĭl, not wăs´sĭl. A festive occasion,
carousal, the song sung at such a time, etc. The verb and the
adjective are spelled and pronounced similarly.
=Water=--waw´ter, not wŏt´er.
=Welsh=, not _Welch_. The latter word is seldom used. =Welshman=,
etc.
=Whinny=, not _winny_, when the cry of a horse is spoken of.
=Whisk=, not _whist_, when a small hand-broom is meant. =Wisp=,
however, is a proper word, meaning the same thing.
=Whiting= is preferable to _whitening_.
=Widow.= It is not necessary to say _widow woman_; no one will
suspect her of being a man.
=Wrestle=--rĕs´l, not răs´sl.