transpose the proposition. I may say the worm feeds the early bird; wherein, though the relations to the verb are different, the form of the nouns is the same.

In

So much for the Substantives-worm and bird. regard to the Adjective early, it is the same in both propositions. Yet, in both it agrees with bird, and is, consequently, Nominative or Objective accordingly.

Why is it the same in form? Simply, because the present English makes no distinction between a Nominative and an Objective. Did such a difference exist it would be shown in expressions like the preceding.

This explains what is meant by virtual. We may, if we choose, say hypothetical instead.

§ 153. Prepositions, Conjunctions, and Interjections, being wholly destitute of inflection, will be noticed more fully in the Syntax.

$154. After the notice of Declension and Conjugation. comes that of Derivation and Composition.

DERIVATION.

Addition of a vowel.-Bab-y from babe. In Lowland Scotch this is far more common, and is spelt -ie, as dogg-ie, lass-ie, ladd-ie, mous-ie, wif-ie.

Addition of L.-1. Substantives.-Gird-le, kern-el. 2. Adjectives.-Litt-le, mick-le.

3. Verbs.-Spark-le.

Addition of R.-Substantives.-a. Words that in A. S. ended in -er, and were of the masculine gender-laugh-t-er, slaugh-t-er.

b. Words that in A. S. ended in -er, and were of the neuter gender-lay-er, fodd-er.

c. Words that in A. S. ended in ere, and were of the masculine gender. These form a numerous and important class. They are almost all the names of agents. If we subtract the ending -er, the remainder is either a verb

or a word that can be used as such; e.g. read-er, sinn-er, harp-er, full-er, begg-er (or begg-ar), hunt-er, lend-er, &c. d. Words that in A. S. ended in -ra, and were masculine-gander (A. S. gand-ra).

Verbs-Hind-er, low-er.

Addition of N.-Substantives.-Maid-en, mai-n (as in might and main). That the -n is no part of the original word in mai-n, we see from the word may. The idea in both and mai-n is that of power.

may

Adjectives. Words of this sort express the circumstance of the object to which they are applied, being made of the material of which the radical part of the derivative is the name: thus, gold-en is a derivative from gold the material of which golden guineas (for instance) are made. So, also, oak-en, ash-en, beech-en, braz-en, flax-en, gold-en, lead-en, silk-en, wood-en, wooll-en, hemp-en, wheat-en, oat-en, waxen.

Addition of the sound of O, originating in -ow or -ov, and spelt in the present English -ow.-By comparison with shade and mead, the forms shad-ow and mead-ow are shown to be derivative.

Addition of T.-1. Substantives.-a. Words which in A. S. ended in -t, gif-t, shrif-t, thef-t, wef-t (weave), rif-t, drif-t, thrift, fros-t (freeze), gris-t (grind), flight, sigh-t, draugh-t (draw), weigh-t.

b. Words which in A. S. ended in -ta. The compounds of the word wright (from the root work, in the old past tense wrought); such as cart-wrigh-t, wheel-wrigh-t, millwrigh-t, &c.

2. Adjectives.-Tigh-t (tie).

Addition of D.-Substantives.-Bran-d (burn, brenn, obsolete), floo-d (flow), mai-d (may in Lowland Scotch) see-d (sow), bur-d-en (bear).

2. Adjectives.-Col-d (cool).

Addition of TH (A. S. p as sounded in thin).—Substantives.-Dea-th, bir-th (bear), heal-th, leng-th, bread-th,

heigh-th, dep-th, mir-th, truth, weal-th, fil-th, til-th (tillage, or tilled ground), ki-th (as in the phrase kith and kin).

2. Adjectives. The syllable -cou-th in the compound word uncou-th. This word originally means unknown, originating in the word ken to know.

Addition of TH (A. S. Bur-th-en, derived from bear.

) as sounded in thine.

Addition of the sound of the Z in zeal and the S in flags (flagz).-Verbs.-Cleanse (clenz), from clean. In A. S.

clan-s-ian.

Addition of the sound of K.-Hill-ock.

Addition of the sound of the vowel E (as in feet), originating in -ig, and spelt in the present English -y.-All the derivative adjectives that now end in -y, ended in A. S. in -ig; as blood-y, craft-y, drear-y, might-y, mist-y mood-y, merr-y, worth-y, of which the A. S. forms were blôd-ig, craft-ig, dreór-ig, miht-ig, mist-ig, môd-ig, myr-ig, worth-ig.

Addition of the syllable -ing.-Farth-ing (4), rid-ing* (3, a corruption from thrith-ing). Also, clean-s-ing, dawning, morn-ing. In these words the -ing was originally -ung; as clan-s-ung, dag-ung, A. S.

Addition of the syllable l-ing.-Gos-l-ing (little goose) duck-l-ing (little duck), dar-l-ing (little dear), hire-l-ing, found-l-ing, fond-l-ing, nest-l-ing, &c. The words of this class are generally diminutives, or words expressive of smallness.

Addition of the syllable -kin-Lamb-kin (little lamb), mann-i-kin (little man). Words ending in -kin are chiefly diminutives.

Addition of the syllable -rel.-Cock-erel (little cock), pick-erel (little pike). Diminutives.

Addition of the syllable -ard.-Drunk-ard, stink-ard.
Addition of the syllable -old.-Thresh-old.

Addition of the syllable -ern.-East-ern, west-ern, northern, south-ern.

* As the three ridings of Yorkshire.

Addition of the syllable -ish.-Child-ish, Eng-lish, selfish, whit-ish. The original form was -isk; cild-isc (childish), Engl-isc (English), A. S.

Addition of the syllable -ness. - Good-ness, bad-ness, wicked-ness, bright-ness, dark-ness, weari-ness, dreari-ness, &c.

Change of the sound of a consonant - Price, prize; cloth, clothe; use, use (pronounced uze); grass, graze; grease (pronounced greace), grease (pronounced greaze). In each of the pairs of words given above, the former is a substantive, and the latter a verb.

Changing the sound of a vowel.—Rise, raise : lie, lay: fall, fell: sit, set. The generality of these words are verbs. There are, however, a few nouns; as top, tip; cat, kit.

§ 155. The termination -ry in words like rookery, fishery, &c., presents some difficulty. It is clear that the -r forms no part of the original word; for, though there is such a word as fisher, fisherman, there is no such word as rooker. Neither does fishery mean a collection of fishermen, but one of fishes. Yeomanry and Jewry are words of similar origin and meaning. They carry with them the idea of a collection, or assemblage. The words Englishry, Danishry, and Welshery are to be found in old authors. They are, however, at present obsolete. Eyrie is generally said to mean the nest of an eagle.

As an eagle, fed with morning,

Scorns the embattled tempest's warning
When she seeks her eyrie, hanging

In the mountain cedar's hair,
And her brood expect the clanging

Of her wings through the wild air
Sick with famine.-SHELLEY.

It rather means the collection of eggs, or eggery; for such is the old form of the word.

What, however, is the -r? In the old Dutch and other

*Pronounced clodhe.

allied dialects, we find a kind of plural in -r.

Thus cealfru = calves; lambru = lambs; eggru = eggs. Indeed, in one word it occurs in provincial and archaic English, viz. childer = children. Out of this -r, with the addition of the sound of -y, has the termination -ry in the words above given originated.

In other words, however, this origin is inadmissible; and the idea of collection or assemblage is either obscure or non-existent. Such are foolery, prudery, bravery, slavery, witchery, stitchery (needlework), &c. In all these the -ry has originated out of a false analogy.

§ 156. Derivation by means of the addition of the syllable -ster.--Song-ster, pun-ster. Originally words in -strwere limited to the names of females, and were opposed to the substantives in -er, the names of male agents. Thus, in A. S.,

sangere, a male singer bæcere, a male baker fidelere, a male fiddler webbere, a male weaver rædere, a male reader

were opposed to

/sængestre, a female singer. bæcestre, a female baker. fidelestre, a female fiddler. webbestre, a female weaver. rædestre, a female reader. seamestre, a female seamer (or seamstress). The single word spin-ster, still retains its feminine force.

seamere, a male seamer

COMPOSITION.

§ 157. Substantives preceded by Substantives.-Day-star, morning-star, evening-star, land-slip, watch-house, lighthouse, rose-tree, oak-tree, fir-tree, harvest-time, goose-grass, sea-man, collar-bone, shoulder-blade, ground-nut, earth-nut, hazel-nut, wall-nut, fire-wood, sun-light, moon-light, starlight, torch-light, &c.

Substantives preceded by Adjectives. - Blind-worm, free-man, half-penny, grey-beard, green-sward, white-thorn, black-thorn, mid-day, mid-summer, quick-silver, holy-day, &c.