LETTERS TO THE EDITOR: `CHAMBERS' TAKES A SINGULAR VERB

To the Editor:

Aileen Lorberg brought up the word "chambers" in her last column.

This word is a singular, not plural, noun which happens to end in an "s". Black's Law Dictionary defines the word, "The private room or office of a judge; any place in which a judge hears motions, signs papers, or does other business pertaining to his office, when he is not holding a session of court. Business so transacted is said to be done `in chambers'." (Emphasis added)

Such words are not uncommon in English. Some other words which have an "s" ending but are singular are abacus, rabies, trousers, etc. There are also those nouns which sound plural but are singular, such as license, box, suspense, etc.

Therefore the phrase, for example, "This is the chambers of the Chief Justice," would be grammatically correct.

WILLIAMS HOPKINSDEPTH

Associated Circuit Judge

Marble Hill