106

PART II.-ETYMOLOGY-OBSERVATIONS.

P: term

6 We use Rice's gold pens.'

The

word “Rice's” (omitting name of a metal, is a Noun. But, But, because it is here used to indi.

the 's) is a name-hence a Noun. Here tne word “gold," being the because it is here used to indicate a

cate a kind of pen-not with rekind of pen (not with respect to its spect to ownership, for Rice does shape or size, but) with respect to

not own it, but (partly with respect its material, it is an Adjective. to its shape or size, and also) with And this last, being its principal respect to the manufactory at which office, is the office in which it is it was made, and, by inference, the recognized—and we parse it accord-quality-it is an Adjective. And ingly. The Noun becomes an Ad- this last, being its principal office, is jective.

the office in which it is recognized and we parse it accordingly. The

Noun becomes an Adjective. Nor-composed of not and other—retains the offices of its elements.

“Nor will I at my humble lot repine." Here " nor”—being used to modify “repine”—is an Adverb of Negation. But because it introduces a Sentence, additional to a former Sentence, it is a Conjunction: like many other conjunctions, it indicates the office of the sentence which it introduces, making it negative.

Obs.—Some words perform an individual office, and at the same time a representative office.

1. Bring hither that book. 2. Bring to me that book.

Equivalent sentences, 3. Bring me that book.

each correct. In the examples above,

“ Hither" modifies "To me" modifies (To)"me” modifies “ bring;" hence, it is “ bring;" hence, it is " bring;" hence, it is an Adverb. an Adverb.

an Adverb. "Me,” in the third example, as a representative for the Phrase (to me) of which it is a part, is an Adverb. But, being used for a Noun, it is a Pronoun; and, as the object of the phrase, is in the Objective Case. “ The captain had gone

below." 6. Below" ..Shows a relation of " had gone” to deck understood.

Hence, it is a Preposition. « Below (deck)” Modifies “had gone" (denoting place). Hence, it is an

Adverb. « Below," .As a representative of its (Adverbial) Phrase, modifies

“had gone” (denoting place). Hence, it is an Adverb. For farther illustrations, see Obs. 5 and 6, page 95.

Rem.-A careful examination of the genius of the English language will disclose the fact, that a great majority of words perform at the same time two or more distinct offices. The Rule to be observed in parsing is, that a word should be parsed accordiay to its PRINCIPAL office in tre sentcnce.

4, 5, 8, 9, 17,

Pronou

6 an Case

6 to descrit

(25, (22.)

(21, and, be 21 and

0 al connec

The The P: which is qual

VARIABLE OFFICES OF WORDS.

105

a

obscured, and as a perplexing tautology is thereby obviated, I prefer to call it a Conjunction. It is commonly used to introduce an Auxiliary Sentence—and when it follows a Transitive Verb, the Auxiliary is the logical object of the «Phrase or Sentene. (See Diagram 24, page 32.) WORTH.. Worth indicates value--and value implies a relation

and relation of words is commonly expressed by a

Preposition. EXAMPLE_" He possessed an estate worth five hundred pounds per

annum."

“He has an annuity of five hundred pounds." This word is used also as a Noun. EXAMPLE—“He was a man of great worth.” So The word so, is commonly used as an Adverb. But

it is often used as a substitute for a Word, a Phrase,

or a Sentence. EXAMPLES-You are industrious-not so.

John has become a good scholar.

So I predicted.
It is sometimes a Conjunction used for if.
EXAMPLES—"I'll frown, and be perverse,

and
say
thee

nay,
So thou wilt woo."-Juliet.

THE TWOFOLD OFFICE OF SOME WORDS. OBS.—Some words perform, at the same time, two distinct offices—a primary and a secondary office.

“ The surging billows and the gamboling storms

Come, crouching, to his feet.” Here “surging”-being derived | "Crouching”-being derived from from the verb surge, and partaking the verb crouch, and partaking of of the nature of that verb by denot- the nature of that verb by denoting a inz. a particular kind or mode of particular kind or mode of action:action--is a modification of a Verb-- is a modification of a verb--a Par. a Participle. But, because it is here liciple. But, because it is here used used as descriptive of " billows” – to modify “come ”-denoting the denoting a condition of hillows-it manner of the action expressed by is an Adjective. And this being the that word--it is an Adverb. And, principal use of the word in this con- this being the principal use of the nestion, we call it a Verbal Adjec- word in this connection, we call is tive.

an Adverb. The saine remarks apply to'gamwoling,” as descriptive of “storms.

5*

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PART II.-ETYMOLOGYOBSERVATIONS.

Many words are used as Prepositions or Conjunctions, according as they introduce Phrases or Sentences. EXAMPLES—John arrived before me.

John arrived before I did.
John arrived a little earlier than I (than mel.
John arrived a little earlier than I did.
John arrived as soon 1 [as me).

John arrived as soon as I did. Before me”... Is a Phrase, used to modify “arrived;" hence, an Adve”o. ss Betore I did”.. Is a Sentence, used to modify " arrived;" hence, an Alllerb. 6. Tuan I”. Is a Phrase, used to modify - arrived;" hence, an Ar/verb. " Than I did”.. Is a Sentence, used to modify “ arrived;" hence, an Adverb. "As I”

Is a Phrase, used to modify " arrived;' hence, an Arlrcrb. " As Atd” .. Is a Sentence, used to modify“ arrived;" hence, an Adverb.

Of the many words thus used as Prepositions and Conjuuctions, custom allows twaas and than—to be followed by Pronouns in the Nominative form. EXAMPLES - Thou art wiser than I."*

Thun is also used as a Pronoun, when it is the subject or object

of Verb; as

He does no more than is done by the rabbit."

· Than,

,” in this example, is the subject of“ is done”– hence, a Pronoun. But in this and similar examples, it may become a Preposition by supplying the ellipsis; as---He does no niore than [that which] is done by the rabbit." This is probably the more correct rendering. THAT...This word is primarily an Adjective. But it is also

used as a Pronoun. And, in consequence of the chscurity of an ellipsis (which may be generally supplied),

it is often used as a Conjunction. EXAMPLES—" He demanded that payment should be made." This may

be resolved into two sentences.

Payment should be made.”

“ He demanded thal." Here " that" is the object of " demanded," and is substituted for the whole of the former sentence. But, as the sense is not

a

Shall we--as some Grammarians insist-cal] “than" a Conjunction, and require the “ellipsis to be supplied ?" Thou art viser than I ani wisur! Tinu art wiser lhrin I am wise!

Shall the modification of one word determine the etymolngy of arciner connected with it? Shonld not rather the office of each word deterinine its etymlogy. and the etymology thus determined, determine the forin of another word depending on it for sense ?

VARIABLE OFFICES OF WORDS.

103

66

dollars.

ORDS.

roperly

thy shadowy hand was seen
Writing thy name of Death."— Pollock.
I thought you an horrest man.
I took you for an honest man.
All, old and young, went.
All, from the oldest to the youngest, went.

' And cries of_live forever-struck the skies.” We do not claim that these examples contain words precisely in apposition-as much so, however, as any cases claimed to be connected by as.

As-is often used (by ellipsis of one or more words) as a Pronoun. (See Rem. on than, below.] BUT. ... This word—like most Conjunctions—is derived from a

Saxon Verb signifying “except”-“set aside”—“ fail,"

&c. [See Webster's Improved Grammar.] In the list above given, the word retains its original signification and office. Examples- I cannot but rejoice.

I cannot fail-omil to rejoice. Here “but” is a Verb--Potential Mode—and “ rejoice' is a Verb-Infinitive Mode, depending on “but.”

But is also used instead of the words, if it were not. “And but for these vile guns, he would himself have been a soldier." LIKE... When this word qualifies a word, it is an Adjective

when it represents its noun, it is an Adjective Pronoun. But when it shows a relation of two words, it is a Pre

posítion. EXAMPLES—"These armies once lived, and breathed, and felt like us."

Morgan. “ An hour like this, may well display the emptiness of hu.

man grandeur." THAN.. This word always expresses comparison, and comparison

implies a relation. When this relation is expressed by words, than is a Preposition. When it is expressed by sentences; and when words, phrases, or sentences, are merely connected by it, it is a Conjunction. The use of it as a Preposition is sanctioned by good

authority-ancient and modern EXAMPLES—" They are stronger than lions."

“Thou shalt have no other Gods than me."--Com. Prayer. “But in faith, she had been wiser than me.”-Southey. “Their works are more perfect than those of men.”- Taylor.

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PART II.-ETYMOLOGY-OBSERVATIONS.

Since Conj Since I cannot go, I will be contented here. So. . Adj .. Solomon was wise- we are not so. So..

. Adv .. So calm, so bright. Than Conj .....She is more nice than wise. Than .Prep

Than whom none higher sat. Than Pron.. We have more than heart can wish. That Adj That book is mine. That Pron. Rel. Him that cometh unto me. That Pron. Adj. Forgive me my foul murder ? that cannot he That .Conj......I am glad that he has lived thus long. Then . Adv Then, when I am thy captive, talk of chains. Then. Conj

Then I'll look up. Then. Pron Till then. Till Prep

They labored hard till night. Till .Conj

TN I come, give attention to reading. Until. .Prep From morn, even until night. Until. .Conj Until the day dawn. What. . Adj At what hour did you arrive ? What.

. Rel. Pron. What Reason weaves, by Passion is undone. What. . Inter. Pron What does it avail ? What. . Exclama.. What! thy servant a dog Within... Prep To inscribe a circle within a circle. Within. . Adj Received on the within bond, five hundred dollars.

OBSERVATIONS ON SOME OF THE FOREGOING WORDS.

As..... When this word introduces a sentence, it is properly

called a Conjunction. EXAMPLE—“As ye journey, sweetly sing."

When it introduces a phrase, it is a preposition, and is

then generally equivalent to the preposition for. EXAMPLES—" He gave me this as the latest news from the army.”

"I am always fearful, lest I should tell you that for news,

with which you are well acquainted.”— Cowper. " For example." “I mention these as a few exemplifications." “And melancholy marked him for her own.”—Gran.

They will seek out some particular herb which they do not use as food.”—Taylor. " His friends were counted as his enemies.”—Sigourney.

“ All mark thee for a prey.”—Cowper. The above examples clearly indicate that as is sometimes a Preposition.

Rem.--Many Grammarians insist that as, in the above and similar examples, a must be a Conjunction, because, in most cases, it connects words in opposition.

The same is true of other Prepositions. EXAMPLES--In the cily of New York.

66