464 Mr. Pickering on the present state of the Engish language 
CERTAIN. Dr. Witherspoon thus censures a mode of using this adjective in 
America—“ A certain Thomas Benson. The word certain, as used in 
English, is an indefinite ; the name fixes it precisely, so that there is a kind 
of contradiction in the expression. In England they would say, a certain 
person, called or supposed to be Thomas Benson.” Withersp. Druid, 
No. 5. 
CHAIR; used in some of the southern states, to signify a one-horse pleasure- 
carriage, which, in the northern states is generally called by the old Eng- 
lish name, chaise. 
CHECKERS or CHEQUERS ; a common name in some of the states, for the 
game, which in England is called draughts. Ash has the ancient word 
“ checkere,” for the chess-board, (for which he cites Chaucer, ) but marks 
the word as odsolete. The board is here still called a checker-board, by 
those who call the game checkers. 
CHUNK. Dr. Witherspoon has the following remark on this word—« Chunks, 
thats; brands, half burnt wood. This is customary in the middle colonies.” 
_Wiherapi Druid, No. T cbr tenlecstenenngeite a large. chip or bit of 
eee 
a oa 
Provincial Glossary (word hath 3) sayieok Chuck, a a great chip. Sussex. 
In other counties called a chunk or junk.” . The vulgar here also(by whom 
these words are chiefly used) say chunk and junk. The Engiish dictiona- 
ries all have chump. Mr. Webster has “ chump or chunk, a short. piece 
of wood.” Hence probably the low word chunky, that is, short and thick, 
_ applied by the yulgar'to the stature of a person; as, he is a chunky fellow. 
CHURCH. This word, in Johnson’s third signification (a place of worship) is 
generally used by the people of the Vew England states to denote the place 
of worship of the members of the church of England, or Episcopalians, as 
we usually call them. The places of worship of other denominations of 
Christians are generally called meeting-houses. Inthe southern states, I 
believe, the word church is used by all denominations. See we Mats 
of the church. 
CIVISM, “ patriotism, attachment to the public welfare.” Webst. This is one 
of the productions of the French revolution; andy though frequently aed 
several years ago, is now obsolete here, as well as in France. I think it 
