‘Obnoxious’

To the Editors:

Professor Charles Rosen compares two versions of a Wordsworth play and thinks that the phrase “obnoxious to its hate” in the later version is “an absurd tautology” [NYR, December 17, 1987]. Absurd or no, it is not a tautology. “Obnoxious” here means “subject” or “exposed” to its hate. Though archaic or barely current, the meaning can be found in any dictionary, and Mr. Rosen should have known it.

Brooks Munkelt

New York City

Charles Rosen replies:

I am grateful to Mr. Munkelt for this correction.