William Swinton

“ Give a synonym of this word. Ans. Trust.—What is the distinction? Ans. "Trust" looks forward; "credit" looks back—we credit what has happened; we trust what is to happen.—What other part of speech than a noun is "credit"?—Combine and define credit + ed.—Why is the t not doubled? ”

“ Wisdom is a fox, who, after long hunting, will at last cost you the pains to dig out. 'T is a cheese, which by how much the richer has the thicker, homelier, and the coarser coat; and whereof, to a judicious palate, the maggots are the best. ”

“ I. In giving a Latin verb-primitive in this book three "principal parts" of the verb will be given, namely: (1) The present infinitive, (2) the first person singular of the present indicative, and (3) the supine—the second and the third parts because from them radicals are obtained, and the infinitive because this is the part used in naming a verb in a general way. Thus as we say that loved, loving, etc., are parts of the verb "to love," so we say that a'mo (present ind.) and ama'tum (supine) are parts of the verb ama're. ”

“ In the second century of the Christian era, the empire of Rome comprehended the fairest part of the earth, and the most civilized portion of mankind. The frontiers of that extensive monarchy were guarded by ancient renown, and disciplined valour. ”

“ Final e of a primitive word is dropped on taking a suffix beginning with a vowel: as, blame + able = blamable; guide + ance = guidance; come + ing = coming; force + ible = forcible; obscure + ity = obscurity.
Exception 1.—Words ending in ge or ce usually retain the e before a suffix beginning with a or o, for the reason that c and g would have the hard sound if the e were dropped: as, peace + able = peaceable; change + able = changeable; courage + ous = courageous.
Exception 2.—Words ending in oe retain the e to preserve the sound of the root: as, shoe + ing = shoeing ”

“ What is the literal meaning of "unanimity"? If people are of one mind, is not this "unanimity"?—What is the adjective corresponding to the noun "unanimity"?—What is the opposite of "unanimity"?—Write a sentence containing the word "unanimity." ”

“ EXERCISE.
(1) . Write a sentence containing "capital" as an adjective.—Write a sentence containing this word as a noun, in the sense of city.—Write a sentence containing "capital" in the sense of stock.—Is the capital of a state or country necessarily the metropolis or chief city of that state or country?—What is the capital of New York state?—What is the metropolis of New York State?
(3) Combine and define decapitate + ion.—Can you name an English king who was decapitated?—Can you name a French king who was decapitated? ”

“ Compose a sentence containing the word "oligarchy". MODEL: "During the Middle Ages some of the Italian republics, as Genoa and Venice, were under the rule of an oligarchy."
10. From what root is "democracy" derived?—What adjective is formed from "democracy"?—Is Russia at present a democracy?—Can you mention any ancient governments that for a time were democracies?
11. What adjective is formed fiom "aristocracy"?—What noun will denote one who believes in aristocracy? Ans. Aristocrat—What does "aristocrat" ordinarily mean? Ans. A proud or haughty person who holds himself above the common people. ”

“ The principal elements of the English vocabulary are words of Anglo-Saxon and of Latin or French-Latin origin.
5. Anglo-Saxon is the earliest form of English. The whole of the grammar of our language, and the most largely used part of its vocabulary, are Anglo-Saxon. ”

“ A prefix is a significant syllable or word placed before and joined with a word to modify its meaning: as, unsafe = not safe; remove = move back; circumnavigate = sail around.
17. A suffix is a significant syllable or syllables placed after and joined with a word to modify its meaning: as, safely = in a safe manner; movable = that may be moved; navigation = act of sailing.
The word affix signifies either a prefix or a suffix; and the verb to affix means to join a prefix or a suffix to a root-word. ”

“ Derivatives not obviously connected with the Latin roots are given in the last paragraph of each section. Pupils are required to unite the prefixes and suffixes with the radicals, thus forming the English derivatives, which may be given either orally or in writing. Only difficult definitions are appended: in the case of words not defined, pupils may be required to form the definition by reference to the signification of the radicals and the formative elements, thus, acr + id = acrid, being bitter, acr + id + ity = state of being bitter, bitterness. ”

“ OBS.—A painter is called an artist; but a blacksmith could not properly be so called. The French word artiste is sometimes used to denote one who has great skill in some profession, even if it is not one of the fine arts: thus a great genius in cookery might be called an artiste.
3. ar'tisan: through Fr. n. artisan, one who practices an art: hence, one who practices one of the mechanic arts; a workman, or operative.
4. art'ful: art + ful = full of art: hence, crafty, cunning.
5. art'less: art + less = without art: hence, free from cunning, simple, ingenuous. ”

“ Such a realization can only be gained by using the word,—by turning it over in a variety of ways, and by throwing upon it the side-lights of its synonym and contrasted word. The method of thus utilizing English derivatives gives a study which possesses at once simplicity and fruitfulness,—the two desiderata of an instrument of elementary discipline."
2 "Etymology," Greek et'umon, the true literal sense of a word according to its derivation, and log'os, a discourse.
3 "Vocabulary," Latin vocabula'rium, a stock of words; from vox, vocis, a voice, a word. ”

“ What is meant by an amateur painter? an amateur musician?
4. AN'IMUS, mind, passion; AN'IMA, life. Radical: anim-.
1. an'imal: from Lat. n. anima through the Latin animal: literally, something having life.
2. animal'cule: animal + cule = a minute animal: hence, an animal that can be seen only by the microscope.
3. an'imate, v.: anim + ate = to make alive: hence, to stimulate, or infuse courage.
4. animos'ity: anim + ose + ity = the quality of being (ity) full of (ose) passion: hence, violent hatred. ”

“ An impostor is sure to show opposition to the course of justice. Coleridge holds that it is possible to apprehend a truth without comprehending it. The bankrupt was so arrogant that his creditors were not disposed to be lenient with him. Most of the questions proposed by the rector were answered in the negative. What is the origin of the word derivation? The region is described as healthful. The manuscript was transcribed and subscribed by the author. It is salutary to be rivals in all worthy ambitions. ”

“ There are no silent letters in Anglo-Saxon as in modern English. The vowel of every syllable is pronounced, and in difficult combinations of consonants, as in hlud, loud, cniht, knight, cnif, knife, each consonant has its distinct sound. ”

“ Tautology is to be avoided by all who make any pretence to grammar. One may be a democrat without being a demagogue. You cannot be an architect without knowing geometry. Zoology shows that there is great symmetry in the structure of animals. The pretensions of astrology are now dissipated into thin air. Many persons skilled in physiology do not believe in hydropathy. Longfellow's "Evangeline" is written in hexameter, and Milton's "Paradise Lost" in pentameter.
20. ON'OMA (ονομα) , a name.
anon'ymous, without a name.
meton'ymy, a rhetorical figure in which one word is put for another. ”

“ In the Bible, and in Shakespeare's vocabulary, they are in the proportion of ninety per cent. For specimens showing Anglo-Saxon words, see p. 136.
II.—ETYMOLOGICAL CLASSES OF WORDS.
10. Classes by Origin.—With respect to their origin, words are divided into two classes,—primitive words and derivative words.
11. A primitive word, or root, is one that cannot be reduced to a more simple form in the language to which it is native: as, man, good, run.
12. A derivative word is one made up of a root and one or more formative elements: as, manly, goodness, runner. ”

“ The periods of astronomy go far beyond any chronology. The phonograph and the telegraph are both American inventions. By the aid of a diagram the problem was readily solved. Dr. Holmes, the Autocrat of the Breakfast Table, has written many parodies. In the struggle between monarchy and democracy Mexico has often been in a state of anarchy. ”

“ It is a nefarious act to make a false affidavit. Fanaticism is often infectious. The confirmed offender had issued many counterfeits. Dickens gives us the quintessence of the facetious. In figure the earth is an oblate spheroid. ”

“ His method of reasoning was very popular in the schools during the Middle Ages, and a very skillful hair-splitter was called a Dunse; but at last, through the influence of the antagonists of the philosopher, the word passed into a term of reproach.
ep'icure, one fond of good living: "Epicurus," a Greek philosopher who was said to teach that pleasure is the chief good. ”

“ A miser is an object of commiseration to all who know him. Remuneration will be allowed according to the amount of labor. The major has been promoted to the rank of colonel. All who were connected with the movement were excommunicated. As the annexed territory is chiefly maritime it will greatly increase the commerce of the nation. ”

“ II. It should be noted that it is incorrect to translate amo, amatum, by "to love," since neither of these words is in the infinitive mood, which is amare. The indication of the Latin infinitive will be found of great utility, as it is the part by which a Latin verb is referred to in the Dictionary.
7. Noun-radicals and adjective radicals are formed from the nominative and from the genitive (or possessive) case of words belonging to these parts of speech. Thus:—
NOTE.—These explanations of the mode of forming radicals are given by way of general information ”

“ Another point of novelty in the method of treatment is presented in the copious practical exercises on the use of words. The experienced instructor very well knows that pupils may memorize endless lists of terms and definitions without having any realization of the actual living power of words. ”