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1. When all the leading terms relating to the same general subject are collected together, duly arranged, and appropriately defined, the definitions taken collectively constitute a brief treatise on that particular subject, and lend to each other a mutual interest which would be lost if the same definitions were disjoined by the artificial arrangement of an alphabetical Vocabulary.

2. The association of words, according to their affinities of meaning, or according to their common relation to the same central idea, assists the memory, so that a collection of kindred words, with their definitions, will be more easily remembered than the same number of words and definitions that have no bond of mutual connection. Let, for instance, the various English terms that relate to the idea of Light be collected, arranged, and defined, the student will thereby be enabled to treasure up, in the space of an hour or two, a stock of information which would have required years to accumulate by consulting a dictionary, as the terms might occur from time to time in the course of his reading. Other subjects, as those of Color, Sound, Form, Number, Time, etc., might be mastered with a like facility; and in the course of a few months the learner might, in this manner, gain some knowledge of a large proportion of the more useful terms of the language.

3. A topical classification of words necessarily brings synonyms, or words of similar meaning, in juxtaposition. Now, it is much easier to learn to discriminate between words separated only by slight shades of difference in their meaning when they are defined and studied in connection with each other, than when they are considered separately.

4. The topical classification of words brings together the different terms derived from the same root. Now, the definition of a Latin or Greek root will frequently shed such a light upon a number of English terms derived from this root, as to render it unnecessary to define the derivatives separately, and thus an important saving of time and labor to the student is effected. The association of the derivatives with their root also aids the memory in retaining the entire family; for any one of the derivatives will suggest the idea of the root, and the recollection of the root will suggest all the derivatives with their significations. Another advantage of studying words in connection with their roots is, that this connection often gives a force and beauty to the meaning of the derivatrves, which would be entirely lost in any definition that disregarded this connection.

Nearly all the Latin and Greek roots from which important English words have been derived will be found in the present work, the most of them occurring more than once. The study of this volume may therefore serve, in some degree, as a substitute for the study of the Latin and Greek Janguages

The author would claim the following as points of special merit in his work, as compared with most other works analogous in their nature to the present:

1. The connection between the meaning of roots and that of their derivatives, has, in most instances, been clearly exhibited.

2. The connection between the primary and the secondary meanings of the same word has generally been traced, and the process by which one meaning has grown out of another has been pointed out.

3. The faulty method of defining by synonyms has been avoided, each definition being given in the form of a single short sentence, descriptive of the meaning of the word defined.

4. A large proportion of the definitions are illustrated by sentences and phrases, showing the proper manner of using the words defined.

5. The present is a readable book of definitions, a claim which can be made in behalf of no other work extant, since no dictionary or definer, in which the words are arranged alphabetically, can be used in any other way than as a book of reference. The man who undertook to read the dictionary through thought that the subject changed too frequently and too abruptly, and soon abandoned the enterprise. The young lady who undertook to read the same book, found the stories too short to be interesting. The topical arrangement of the present work gives connection and continuity to the subjects, and weaves the young lady's very short stories into entertaining tales of a respectable length.

6. A common dictionary may be compared to a cabinet of minerals, in which the specimens are arranged according to their shape, size, or color, and not according to their chemical nature. The object of the present undertaking is to sort the specimens, and to arrange them according to their natural affinities, assigning to the earths, the metallic ores, and the precious stones distinct compartments, and appropriating a separate shelf to each species, with its several varieties.

In conclusion, the author would say, that if the present volume shall be found adapted to give interest to what has hitherto been regarded by most persons as a dry branch of learning, and to induce a more general attention to the all-important but much-neglected study of words, the object which prompted the preparation of the volume will have been attained.

LANCASTER, O., JAN. 2, 1860.

JOHN WILLIAMS.

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THE TOPICAL LEXICON.

OF LIGHT.

1. Terms significant of the various modifications of Light. LIGHT is the agent which renders objects visible.

Light, in a. figurative sense, is the information which enables us to apprehend the true nature and relations of things.

ble and unsteady light, like the flame of an expiring lamp.

To TWINKLE is to shine with a small intermitting light.

NOTE.- Twinkle is a modification of winkle, When, therefore, we say that the stars twinkle, which is a diminutive and frequentative of wink. we compare them to little eyes that open and shut with great rapidity.

To SPARKLE is to shine with a reNOTE 1.-There are two theories in regard to the nature of light. The one theory supposes semblance of sparks. A collection light to be a material fluid, emanating in minute of small diamonds sparkles. Spanparticles from luminous bodies. According to the other theory, the sensation of light is pro-gles of frost sparkle in the sunlight. duced by the undulations of a subtle ether act- A SPANGLE is, 1. A small plate or ing on the organs of sight, in a manner analo-boss of shining metal. 2. Any little thing that is very bright and sparkling.

gous to that in which the undulations of the air,

acting on the organs of hearing, produce the

sensation of sound. The latter of these theories is generally received by scientific men of the present day.

NOTE 2.-Light is propagated through space in right lines, at the rate of 192,000 miles per second.

To SHINE is either to emit inherent light, as the sun; or to reflect borrowed light, as the moon.

A SHEEN is a reflected shining. And the sheen of their spears was like stars on the sea,

When the blue wave rolls nightly on deep Galilee.-Byron.

To Spangle, or to Bespangle, is to adorn with spangles.

The spacious firmament on high,
With all the blue, ethereal sky,

And spangled heavens, a shining frame,
Their great Original proclaim.—Addison.

To GLIMMER is to shine with a faint and tremulous light. Dying embers glimmer on the hearth, The early dawn glimmers in the east.

To GLEAM is to shoot forth small streams of light.

Thomson.

BRIGHT, either emitting or reflect- The meek-eyed morn appears, mother of dews, ing light freely. The sun is bright, At first faint gleaming in the dappled east.as is likewise the piece of polished steel that reflects his brightness.

DIM, either emitting or reflecting a faint light.

The stars shall die, the sun grow dim with age.-Addison.

How is the gold become dim!-Lam. iv.

DULL, deficient either in native or borrowed brightness. A lamp that needs trimming gives a dull light. A key that is not used becomes dull.

TO FLICKER is to shine with a fee

Figuratively, we speak of a gleam of hope.

TO GLITTER is to shine with an unsteady and irregular emission or reflection of light. The stars glitter, The diamond on a lady's ring glitters. TO GLISTER is to shine with a keen and sparkling light.

Pleasant the sun,

When first on this delightful land he spreads
His orient beams on herb, tree, fruit, and flower,
Glistering with dew.-Milton.

GLOSS is the reflection of light understood; as a lucid arrangement. from a smooth surface; as, the gloss 2. Illuminated by the light of reason. of silk. Lunatics sometimes enjoy lucid in

TO GLISTEN is to shine with a re-tervals. flection of light from a glossy surface. A well-polished boot glistens. tear-drop glistens in the eye.

Elucidate, lit., to place in a clear A light. Hence, to render intelligible; as, to elucidate an obscure passage.

To GLow is to shine with heat. A Translucent, transmitting light, but bar of iron glows when it is first not transparent. A cup of Chinawithdrawn from the furnace of a ware, or a vase of alabaster is transsmith's forge. lucent. (trans, through.)

without heat.

in the dark.

To Glow also signifies to shine LUCIFER, light-bearing; as, lucifer Certain insects glow matches. (L. fero, to bear.) Lucifer, the Morning Star; so To FLARE is to shine with a wa-called because this star precedes vering light, as the flame of a lamp the sun, and bears, or brings in, the when it is agitated by the wind.

TO FLASH is to send forth a sudden

and momentary light.

TO CORUSCATE is to send flashes of light. Lightning cates.

light of day.

Lucifer, Satan.

NOTE.-In Isaiah xiv, 11, the king of Babylon forth is thus addressed: "How art thou fallen from corusHeaven, O Lucifer, Son of the morning!" Tertullian and Gregory the Great understood this of the fall of Satan, and from this circumstance the name Lucifer has since been applied to Satan.-Robinson's Calmet.

TO BLAZE is to shine with a broad and flame-like light.

To DAZZLE is to overpower the eye with light. We are dazzled by the brightness of the sun.

To GLARE is to shine with a strong and offensive light.

Here in a grotto, sheltered close from air,
And screened in shades from day's detested glare,
She sighs forever.-Pope.

To GLARE is also to look with fierce, piercing eyes.

NOTE. The glaring of the eyes depends upon a vivid reflection of light.

To BEAM is to send forth a strong and steady light; as, the beaming

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SPLENDEO, to shine with a strong and vivid light. (L.) Hence,

Splendid, very bright, either literally or figuratively; as a splendid luminary; a splendid equipage; a splendid achievement.

Splendor, great brightness, both lit. and fig.; as, the splendor of the sun; the splendor of noble deeds.

Resplendent, shining with a brilliant reflection of light. (re, back.)

Resplendence or Resplendency, a brilliant reflection of light.

FULGEO, to shine with great brightness. (L.) Hence,

Refulgent, reflecting light with great brilliancy. (re, back.)

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