WILFRED J. FUNK - TYPED LETTER SIGNED 10/26/1953 - HFSID 273090

WILFRED FUNK. TLS: "Wilfred Funk", 1p, 5½x8½. New York, N.Y., 1953 October 26. On letterhead of "Your Life/The Kingsway Press, Inc." to Mr. Merritt Borden, Bernard Major Seminary, St. Bernard, Alabama. In full: "The word asseverate that you asked about means 'to state to positively; to assert.' The word proclamate I have never seen, and it isn't entered in any dictionary. We have proclaim, proclamation, proclamator, proclamatory. Of course proclaim means 'to announce in a very authentic way.' Sincerely yours". At lower margin and on verso, ALS: "Merritt Borden". Begins: "Yes Sir". In full: "I know, but I am interested in the shade of meaning between asseverate & proclaim. The Holy Father would proclaim a doctrine, or law of the Church, but would he asseverate? (over) I would like the meaning of asseverate in relation to proclaim Thank you. Sincerely". In 1953, Funk's book, 30 Days to a More Powerful Vocabulary, co-written with Norman Lewis, was published in its 17th printing. Wilfred John Funk (1883-1965), an American author and publisher, is best known as the co-editor of Funk & Wagnall's New Standard Dictionary. His other works include Word Origins and Six Weeks to Words of Power. In 1954, the year after this letter, Funk's publishing company, Wilfred Funk, Inc., released Our Vanishing Landscape by Eric Sloane. Lightly creased with fold, lower horizontal fold at the "W" and "f" of Wilfred. Lightly soiled on front, light show through of writing on verso. Nicked at lower left blank edge. Overall, fine condition.