In recent years we have become used to having what appear to be major differences of opinion dismissed as "a matter of semantics," since it frequently happens that two persons who appear to be in disagreement turn out on further analysis to be using different words to mean the same thing. Semantic confusion is caused by the use of words that may have different meanings to different people in different contexts. This problem may be more acute with words that have been rather recently adopted into English from other languages. The words "intern" and "internship" are examples of the problem which is familiar to those involved with graduates of medical schools outside the United States and Canada. The common acceptance of the internship as a normal part of the education of a physician in the United States, which began early in the 20th century, and the definition of the "Essentials