Faraday to William Whewell   3 May 1834

R Institution | 3 May 1834

My dear Sir,

I have waited very impatiently for a proof of my paper¹ that I might send it to you with my letter of thanks for your kindness²[.] But I am afraid I have involved by that a charge of unthankfulness towards you, which however I assure you I do not deserve[.]

All your names I and my friend approve of or nearly all as to sense & expression, but I am frightened by their length & sound when compounded[.] As you will see I have taken dexiode and skaiode because they agree best with my natural standard East and West[.] I like Anode & Cathode better as to sound but all to whom I have shewn them have supposed at first that by Anode I meant No way[.]

Then Stecheon I have taken although I would rather not have had the hard sound of ch, here especially as we have similar sounds in both the former words. But when we come to combine it with the two former as dexio-stecheon & skaio-stecheon especially the latter I am afraid it becomes inadmissible simply from its length & sound forbidding its familiar use. For I think you will agree with me that I had better not give a new word than give one which is not likely to enter into common use[.]

It is possible perhaps that by this time some other shorter word may have occurred for Stecheon if so will you favour me with it. If not I think I must strike out the two compounds above and express my meaning without the use of names for the two classes of stecheons though they are very very much want[ed.]

It was the shortness & euphony of Zeteisode & Zetexode which were their strong recommendations to me[.]

I am My Dear Sir | Your Obliged & | faithful Servant | M. Faraday

Rev W. Whewell | &c &c &c

Can you give me at the bottom of the pages³ the greek derivatives &c &c that when you return me the leaves I may have them right for the printer[.] They are of course uncorrected at present[.] | MF