Connexion

[Kiley Family]

Hi,

This is probably not a completely on topic post, but if anybody knows
this it will be crossword people. I was just wondering when the spelling
connection replaced connexion, as a lot of the older books I've read have
used the spelling with the x?

Thanks

Stephen

[Mark Thakkar]

Stephen,

> I was just wondering when the spelling connection replaced connexion,
> as a lot of the older books I've read have used the spelling with the
> x?

This is from the OED:

"The etymological spelling connexion is the original in Eng.; in 17th
c. it was supported by the verb CONNEX; after the latter was displaced
by CONNECT, the n. began c 1725-50 to be often spelt connection, a
spelling which, under the influence of etymologically-formed words,
such as affection, collection, direction, inspection (all f. L. ppl.
stems in -ect-), is now very frequent.

The earlier Eng. lexicographers, including Bailey, Johnson, Walker,
Todd, Crabb, recognize connexion only. Connection appears in Webster
(1828) who says ‘For the sake of regular analogy, I have inserted
Connection as the derivative of the English connect, and would discard
connexion’. This preference has been followed by other dictionaries in
U.S. Latham would differentiate the two spellings and use connexion
only in senses 5-8. Connexion is the official and invariable spelling
in sense 8, and was used in all senses by the majority of writers (or
printers) in England until the mid-20th c., when connection became
more usual."

Funnily enough, I was wondering that myself the other day. Bertrand
Russell always uses "connexion", and he's a stickler for correct usage.

Mark.