~cite~, from the French _citer_ (Latin _cito_, frequentative of _cieo_, call), means “mention by name, summon” and has no relationship with _site_, similarly pronounced, which means “local position,” and is derived from Lat. _situa_, pp. of _sino_, put.
~citizen~: Not to be used for _person_, except when civic relations are referred to. “All _citizens_ are entitled to the protection of the law,” but not “Ten _citizens_ were walking up the street,” unless reference is had to some civic relation, as when opposed to soldiers, policemen, residents of the country, or the like.
~claim~: “He _claimed_ that the discovery was his,” “I _claim_ that this is true,” etc. Incorrect if the meaning is simply _assert_ or _maintain_; but correct if the meaning is _assert_ with readiness to _maintain_, and confidence that the thing _asserted_ can be _maintained_, with the added idea that it makes for the advantage or side of him who _asserts_ and _maintains_ it.
~clever~: In American colloquial usage _clever_ means “_good-natured and obliging_”; in English use it means “skilful.” The American synonym for the English meaning of “clever” is _smart_, and the English synonym for the American meaning of “clever” is _jolly_.
~climax~, ~acme~: Discriminate carefully between these words. A _climax_ is a successive increase in force of language for the purpose of intensifying it. The _acme_ is the highest point or greatest intensity attained.
~climb down~: As _to climb_ signifies ascension, this colloquialism of the United States is apparently unwarranted. If, however, a descent be laborious, as though by hands and feet, _crawl_ should be used as a substitute for _climb_.
~coeval~, ~contemporary~: Discriminate carefully between these terms. _Coeval_ is said of things existing at the same time; _contemporary_ is applied to persons living in the same period.
~commonly~: Do not confound this word with _generally_, _frequently_, _usually_. That is _commonly_ done which is common to all; that is _generally_ done, which is done by the larger number; that is _frequently_ done which is done by a large number or by a single person on many occasions; that is _usually_ done which is customarily done whether by many or one.