Etymons Of English Words Classic Reprint

Excerpt from Etymons of English Words The English Language is derived from the Gothic and Celtic, chiefly through the Anglo Saxon and French dialects. The object now in contemplation is to trace the probable origin of its words, to mark their adventitious changes, and indicate their principal analogies. The utility of etymological inquiries has been disputed on the ground, that, a precise meaning being once affixed to words, it avails little to know whence they 'originated. This, abstractedly, may be true; but, linked so intimately as they are with the Arts and Sciences, their variations must correspond with the progressive improvement of the human mind, and therefore assume some considerable importance in the History of Man. Even the puerile attempts of this kind which have been admitted into our dictionaries, create a national concern that means should be tried to avert the sneer of foreigners, and remove at least some erroneous ideas, which are always pernicious. The difficulty of such correction is sufficiently evident. Few literary men would be disposed to tread in this humble path; and fewer still, if any, possess knowledge of the ancient and modern languages of Europe adequate to the pursuit. Many years of labour, and no small portion of fortune must be devoted, in this way, without any certainty of success, amidst the numerous contingencies which exclude all rational calcula tion of pecuniary advantage. Fame, the aerial recompense of authors, cannot be expected. If the etymons be at all natural, the difficulties of selecting and compiling them will become less obvious. They offer, at the same time, so Wide a scope to the shafts of criticism, that those who choose to exercise it candidly, will at least, distinguish between the cursory and amusing analysis of particular words, and the toil of wading through a whole vocabulary with no choice of evasion. The task, here prescribed, extends much beyond the usual practice of referring, merely to some cognate term, in German or French, for an English etymon, without pointing further toward a common source; which is little more satisfactory than adducing some difference of pronunciation at York and in London. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.

Excerpt from Principles of English Etymology The present volume is intended to serve as a help to the student of English etymology. In my Etymological Dictionary, the numerous examples of similar letter - changes are invariably separated from each other, by the necessity for adhering to the alphabetical order. It is therefore advisable to re-arrange the results so as to shew what words should be under consideration at the same time. It is only by a com parison of this character that the various phonetic laws can be properly observed and tested. I have found it advisable to follow the example of Mr. Sweet, in his History of English Sounds, and to consider what may be called the 'native element' of our language apart from the Romance or imported element. Hence I have purposely excluded all words of French origin from the present investigation. A few French words are quoted here and there by way of illustration, but no inferences are here drawn from the results which their history furnishes. If the present volume should meet with approval, I propose to issue another volume, to be entitled 'second Series, ' Which will deal particularly, and almost exclusively, with the words which have been imported into English from French, as well as from Latin, Greek, and other languages (except Teutonic and Celtic) af/er the N orman Conquest. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.

Excerpt from English Compound Words and Phrases Of course, however, the dictionary can not tell in indi vidual entries why the forms given are preferred, and the only possible basis for a reasonably consistent practical record is principle. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.

Excerpt from Etymons of English Words The object, in the following Work, is to trace the descent of English words; their affinity with the different dialects of Gothic spoken in Europe; and the connexion between our own and some other tongues both of Europe and Asia, without introducing any remarks where the general meaning is obvious. Evident derivations from the Latin and Greek are often omit, ted, because sufficiently understood by all literary persons. Gothic words from five dialects of that language are introduced as concurrent etymons; to which the Russian and Irish vocabularies, in the proportion of at least one third, bear evident affinity, either by cognation or adoption; although so much disguised, by a different orthography, that they could not be usefully added without explanations too diffuse for the present object The plan, as the reader will observe, is studiously concise; being intended rather as an Index than a Glossary. The cursory observer will find it sufficient for his purpose; and those who are inclined to deeper research must apply to the under-mentioned sources of information. The Index of Vereleus contains nearly all the Gothic roots employed in English; and an improved arrangement of that valuable record, with considerable additions, has been prepared for publication. The Glossaries of Ihre, of Schertz and Oberlin, the Thesaurus of Hickes, and the Dictionary of Lye, exhibit the variations that occur in the Swedish, Teutonic; Mœso-Gothic and Anglo-Saxon dialects; and to them the inquisitive reader must have reference. He will do well to consult also the Scottish Etymology of Dr Jamieson. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.

Excerpt from Proposal for the Publication of a New English Dictionary II. Collectors are further requested to transcribe all passages falling under one or other of the heads following e. Passages which give an account of, or implicitly serve to mark, the first introduction of a word into the language, or first use of it in an entirely new sense. Passages which consciously discuss or unconsciously reveal the etymology of a word, or the rationale of a name. Passages which contain happy definitions or explanations. 0. Passages which serve to distinguish any word from the synonyms with which it is likely to be confounded, either by felicitous Opposition or by avowed discrimination; and which assign to each the province which is properly its own. C. Passages illustrating the earlier uses which words have now left behind them, and the successive modifications of meaning through which they have passed. [see Examples, p. Fornication is no mortal sin because there is no text of Scripture that saith so. N0 is? What means that then of Paul, Col. Iii. 5? About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.

Excerpt from A Dictionary of Literary Terms The field covered by the above definition of 'literary terms is limited still further by the general purpose of such a book as the present, which must obviously give the preference to the terms of English literature. In the selection of foreign terms which space has made necessary, first place has been given to such as illustrate directly or indirectly either the development of English letters or their comparative study. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.

Excerpt from An Universal and Critical Dictionary of the English Language: To Which Are Added Walker's Key to Pronunciation of Classical and Scripture Proper Names, Much Enlarged and Improved; And Pronouncing Vocabulary of Modern Geographical Names IN the Introduction to this Dictionary, may be found remarks on ortho epy or pronunciation, orthography, etymology or the derivation of words, grammar, archaisms, provincialisms, Americanisms, and on various other points of philology and lexicography, and also explanations of the principles adopted in the preparation of the work. Prefatory observations are also pre fixed to the enlarged edition of Walker's Key, inserted in this volume, and likewise to the Pronouncing Vocabulary of Modern Geographical Names. To these several introductory pages the reader is referred for various explanations and remarks, which it is unnecessary here to repeat. In relation to etymology, or the derivation of English words, the general rule which has been followed is, to give the etymons of such words as are derived from languages foreign to the English, namely, the Greek, Latin, French. Spanish, Italian, Dutch, German, Danish, Swedish, The Anglo Saxon being the mother tongue of the English, and the greater part of the English words which are of most frequent occurrence being derived from that language, with more or less change of their orthography, the etymology of these words of anglo-saxon origin is, for the most part, omitted. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.