It will be well also
to compare such words as _stupefy_ and _stupidity, rarity_ and _rarefy_.
Homonyms.
The infatuation of modern spelling-book makers has introduced the
present generation to a serious difficulty in spelling which was not
accounted great in olden times. The pupil now has forced upon him a
large number of groups of words pronounced alike but spelled differently.
The peculiar trouble with these words is due to the confusion between
the two forms, and to increase this the writers of spelling-books have
insisted on placing the two forms side by side in black type or italic
so that the pupil may forever see those two forms dancing together before
his eyes whenever he has occasion to use one of them. The attempt is
made to distinguish them by definitions or use in sentences; but as the
mind is not governed by logical distinctions so much as by association,
the pupil is taught to associate each word with the word which may cause
him trouble, not especially with the meaning to which the word ought to
be so wedded that there can be no doubt or separation.
These words should no doubt receive careful attention; but the
association of one with the other should never be suggested to the
pupil: it is time enough to distinguish the two when the pupil has
actually confused them.
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