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e from a failure to make distinctions that are recognized in P.S.P. Thus in Lancashire the diphthong sound in _flow_, _snow_, _bone_, _coal_, _those_, &c., is very often pronounced as a pure vowel (cf. French _eau_, _mot_): hence confusion arises between _flow_ and _flaw_, _sow_ and _saw_, _coal_ and _call_: both these vowel sounds tending to become indistinguishable from the French _eau_.' FEASIBLE _Feasible_ is a good example of a word which appears in danger of being lost through incorrect and ignorant use. It can very well happen that a word which is not quite comfortable may feel its way to a useful place in defiance of etymology; and in such cases it is pedantry to object to its instinctive vagaries. But _feasible_ is a well-set comfortable word which is being ignorantly deprived of its useful definite signification. In the following note Mr. Fowler puts its case clearly, and his quotations, being typically illustrative of the manner in which this sort of mischief comes about, are worthy of attention. 'With those who feel that the use of an ordinary word for an ordinary notion does not do justice to their vocabulary or sufficiently exhibit their cultivation, who in fact prefer the stylish to the working word, _feasible_ is now a prime favourite. Its proper sense is "capable of being done, accomplished, or carried out". That is, it means the same as _possible_ in one of the latter's senses, and its true function is to be used instead of _possible_ where that might be ambiguous. _A thunderstorm is possible_ (but not _feasible_). Irrigation is possible (or, indifferently, _feasible_). _A counter-revolution is possible_; i.e., (a) one may for all we know happen, or (b) we can if we choose bring one about; but, if _b_ is the meaning, _feasible_ is better than _possible_ because it cannot properly bear sense _a_, and therefore obviates ambiguity. 'The wrong use of _feasible_ is that in which, by a slipshod extension, it is allowed to have also the other sense of _possible_, and that of _probable_. This is described by the highest authority as "hardly a justifiable sense etymologically, and ... recognized by no dictionary". It is however becoming very common; in all the following quotations, it will be seen that the natural word would be either _possible_ or _probable_, one of which should have been chosen:--Continuing, Mr. Wood said: "I think it is very feasible that the strike may be brought to an end this
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