Miscellaneous Entries.
service was once only a noun, but since the late 19th century it has been used as a transitive verb as well. It may mean “to provide service for” {the mechanic serviced the copying machine}, “to pay interest on” {to service a debt}, or generally “to perform services for.” Ordinarily, the verb “to serve” ought to be used in broad senses. “Service,” v.t., should be used only if the writer believes that “serve” would not be suitable in idiom or sense, especially since “service” denotes the male animal’s function in breeding.
servicemark = a name, phrase, or other device intended to identify the services of a certain business. This term is now preferably one word, not two and not hyphenated.
session; cession. “Session” = (1) a meeting of a body of people; an assembly; (2) the term or period of such a meeting; or (3) a period of time devoted to a particular activity. “Cession” = (1) the act of ceding or giving up (as by treaty); or (2) a thing ceded.
sessional; *sessionary. The latter is a needless variant of the adjective corresponding to the noun “session.”
sewage; sewerage. “Sewage” is the refuse conveyed through sewers; “sewerage” means either the removal of sewage or the system of removal.
*Invariably inferior forms.
For information about the Language-Change Index click here.
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Quotation of the Day: “Honest writing is a way of finding out what we think.” John E. Jordan, Using Rhetoric 36 (1965).
