HAMMERS AT FORCED SMILES
approaching sound etymologically
To denote speech they depict a TONGUE, and a BLOOD-SHOT EYE; because they allot the principal parts of speech to the tongue, but the secondary parts thereof to the eyes. For these kinds of discourses are strictly those of the soul varying in conformity with its emotions; more especially as they are denominated by the Egyptians as different languages. And to symbolise speech differently, they depict a TONGUE and a HAND BENEATH; alloting the principal parts of speech to the tongue to perform, and the secondary parts of the hand as affecting the wishes of the tongue.
Skeat was a stubborn defender of the punian etymology. In a pun, he said, one pounds words, bends them into new senses, and hammers at forced similes.
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