Temple.
_Pronunciation of "Humble"_ (Vol. viii., p. 393.).--I venture once more to
trespass on your pages, in the hope of helping to settle the right
pronunciation of _humble_. In the controversy respecting it, the derivation
of the word should not be overlooked, as it is a most important point; for
I consider that the improper use of the _h_ has arisen from people not
knowing from whence the word was taken. Now, as I am of opinion that it
will go far to prove that the _h_ should be silent in _humble_, by giving a
list of the radical words in the English language in which that letter is
silent, and their derivations, I beg to do so: premising that they are
derived from the Celtic language, in which the _h_ is not used in the same
manner that it is in other languages:
_Heir_, from _oigeir_, i. e. the young man who succeeds to a property: the
word is pronounced _air_.
_Honest_, from _oinnicteac_, i. e. just, liberal, generous, kind.
_Honour_, from _onoir_, i. e. praise, respect, worship.
_Hour_, from _uair_, pronounced _voir_, i. e. time present, a period of
time, any time.
_Humble_, from _umal_, i. e. lowly, obedient, submissive.
_Humour._ The derivation of this word is obscure, but in the sense of
_mirth_ it may be derived from _uaim-mir_, i. e. loud mirth, gaiety.
The compounds formed from these words have the _h_ silent; and every other
word beginning with {552} that letter should have it fully sounded. Such
being my practice, I cannot be accused of cultivating the _Heapian
dialect_, which I hold to be equally abominable with the improper use of
the letter _h_.