In the light of these, it would be hard to say what full belatedness, inconsistency, and listlessness may be.
2. Somewhat with essentially emphatic words.
We may call a thing dirty, or filthy; if we choose the latter, we mean to be emphatic; it is absurd to use the emphatic word and take away its emphasis with somewhat, when we might use the gentler word by itself.
A member of the Legislative Council is allowed now to speak in Dutch if he cannot express himself clearly in English; under the proposed arrangement he will be able to decide for himself in which medium he can express himself the more clearly. Surely a somewhat infinitesimal point.—Times.
Thirdly, it is rather agonizing at times to the philologist.—Times.
The distances at which the movements are being conducted receive a somewhat startling illustration from the statement that...–Times.
Under these circumstances it is somewhat extraordinary to endeavour to save the Government from blame.–Times.
In various evidently 'well-informed' journals the somewhat amazing proposition is set up that...–Times.
But unfortunately the word 'duties' got accidentally substituted for 'bounties' in two places, and made the utterance somewhat unintelligible to the general reader.–Times.
The songs are sung by students to the accompaniment of a somewhat agonizing band.–Times.
There is a mysterious man-killing orchid, a great Eastern jewel of State, and many other properties, some of them a little well worn, suitable for the staging of a tale of mystery.–Spectator.
Some of the instances in these two classes would be defended as humorous under-statement. But if this hackneyed trick is an example of the national humour, we had better cease making reflections on German want of humour.
3. Somewhat shyly announcing an epigrammatic or well-chosen phrase.
There is a very pretty problem awaiting the decision of Prince Bülow, and one which is entirely worthy of his somewhat acrobatic diplomacy.–Times.
Gaston engaged in a controversy on the origin of evil, which terminated by his somewhat abruptly quitting his Alma Mater.–Beaconsfield.
