Images de page
PDF
ePub

i

[blocks in formation]

By JOHN ASH, LL. D.

AUTHOR OF GRAMMATICAL INSTITUTES, OR, AN EASY IRTROCUCTION TO
DR. LOWTH'S ENGLISH GRAMMAR.

THE SECOND EDITION.

IN TWO VOLUMES.

VOL. I.

31253.2.1.

LONDON:

PRINTED FOR VERNOR AND HOOD, BIRCHIN LANE, CORNHILL.

1795.

[Price Twelve Shillings bound in Two Volumes.]

[merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small]

N. B. The accent is so placed, for the most part, as to terminate the fyllable and aid the pronunciation:

[blocks in formation]

T

ADVERTISEMENT.

It

HE plan of this Work is extensive beyond any thing that has yet been attempted of the kind in the English Language. was intended to introduce not only all the appellatives or common words, whether adical, derivative or compound, obfolete, cant or provincial; but all proper 11mes of men and women, heathen gods and goddesses, heroes, princes, poets, historians, wife men and philosophers of special note, whether ancient or modern: Of all the principal kingdoms, cities, towns, feas and rivers in the known world, more especially in Great Britain and Ireland: Of beasts, birds, fishes and infects: Of trees, plants, herbs, minerals and fofsils. The terms of art in chymistry, pharmacy, heraldry, divinity, mathematics, mechanics, manufactures and husbandry. The derivations from the ancient, modern and learned languages, in which special attention has been given to the mere English scholar, by a proper analysis and full explanation of the originals. The various fenfes, with the use and construction illustrated by examples, and supported by authorities where any thing appeared to be uncommon or doubtful. The pronunciation pointed out, and affifted by a new method of placing the accent, and by notes on the founds of the letters where it was judged necessary. The different spellings preferved and diftinguished as ancient or modern, common or uncommon, correct or incorrect: and, in a word, every thing which might be thought requifite to render the work worthy of the title it bears, and under which it is now recommended to the public. And all this to be comprised in as narrow a compass as poffible, left the size should supersede the intention of general usefulness, and acceptance to the English reader.

The execution of a plan so very extensive, and yet in some respects limited, must doubtless have failed in fome particulars. Errata of the press and other trifling defects, in a work of this nature, could not be avoided. The compounds and transmutations of the English Language are exceedingly numerous; almofst any adjective, by an ellipfis, is converted into a fublantive, and almost any fubftantive, by a kind of composition, is transformed into an adjective. All which compounds and tranfmutations could not well be collected : they have been and are still fabricated by the caprice or different cast of the writers who use them; and are, perhaps, capable of an endless variety. The obsolete spellings from Chaucer, and other cotemporary authors, might have been greatly increased, but those which are here introduced, may be thought, perhaps, more than fufficient to illustrate the orthography of that period. Nor was it thought necessary or expedient to rake into the mere cant of any profeffion, much less of gamesters, highwaymen, pickpockets and gipfies.

The final k, after c, in words derived from the learned languages, though carefully retained by Johnson and other writers, has been omitted, in conformity to modern custom and the originals. For it seems to me to be rather incongruous to write mufick from musica, especially as the & has been exploded by general consent from the derivatives musician and musical. The use of the hyphen in compound words has, of late, been much discontinued. It has an awkward appearance in many instances, and is therefore generally omitted in this compilation.

The derivations, for the most part, have been illustrated from the roots of the originals, though the words to be explained might in fome few instances be more nearly allied to the offspring. For example, when a word comes immediately

A 2

« PrécédentContinuer »