Amer'ican,relating to America: from "Amerigo (Latin,Americus) Vespucci"—contemporary of Columbus.
A'rian,relating to Arius: a theologian of the 4th century who denied the divinity of Christ.
Aristote'lian,relating to the deductive method of reasoning set forth by Aristotle: a Greek philosopher of the 4th century B.C.
Armin'ian,relating to Arminius: a Dutch theologian of the 16th century, who opposed the doctrines of Calvin.
Baco'nian,relating to the inductive method of reasoning set forth by Bacon: an English philosopher of the 17th century.
Carte'sian,relating to the philosophy of Descartes: a French philosopher of the 17th century.
ce'real,relating to grain: from "Ceres"—the Roman goddess of corn and tillage.
Coper'nican,relating to Copernicus: a German philosopher of the 16th century, who taught the theory of the solar system now received, and called theCopernican system.
Eliz'abethan,relating to the times of Queen Elizabeth of England: (1558-1603).
Eo'lian,relating to the wind: from "Æolus"—the god of the winds in classic mythology.
Eras'tian,relating to Erastus:—a German theologian of the 16th century, who maintained that the Church is wholly dependent on the State for support or authority.
Escula'pian,relating to the healing art: from "Esculapius"—the god of the healing art among the Greeks.
Gor'dian,intricate, complicated, difficult: from "Gordius"—king of Phrygia who tied a knot which could not be untied.
Hercule'an,very large and strong: from "Hercules"—a hero of antiquity celebrated for his strength.
hermet'ic,relating to Hermes—the fabled inventor of alchemy; adv.,hermetically,in a perfectly close manner.
Hudibras'tic,in the manner of the satirical poem called Hudibras, by Samuel Butler (1612-1680).
jo'vial,gay, merry: from "Jupiter" (Jovis),—the planet of that name having in the Middle Ages been supposed to make those who were born under it of a joyous temper.
Linnæ'an,relating to Linnæus—the celebrated Swedish botanist.
Lu'theran,relating to the doctrines of Luther—a German religious teacher of the 16th century.
Machiavel'ian,cunning and sinister in politics: from "Machiaveli"—an Italian writer of the 15th century.
mercu'rial,active, sprightly—having the qualities fabled to belong to the god "Mercury."
Mosa'ic,relating to Moses, his writings or his time.
Newto'nian,relating to Sir Isaac Newton and his philosophy.
Pindar'ic,after the style and manner of Pindar—a lyric poet of Greece.
platon'ic,relating to the opinions or the school of Plato,—a philosopher of Greece, in the 4th century B.C.
Pluton'ic,relating to the interior of the earth, or to the Plutonic theory in geology of the formation of certain rocks by fire: from "Pluto"—in classic mythology, the god of the infernal regions.
procrus'tean,relating to or resembling the mode of torture employed by Procrustes—a celebrated highwayman of ancient Attica, who tied his victims upon an iron bed, and, as the case required, either stretched out or cut off their legs to adapt them to its length.
Prome'thean,relating to Prometheus—a god fabled by the ancient poets to have formed men from clay and to have given them life by means of fire stolen from heaven, at which Jupiter, being angry, sent Mercury to bind him to Mount Caucasus, and place a vulture to prey upon his liver.
Quixot'ic,absolutely romantic, like Don Quixote—described by Cervantes, a Spanish writer of the 16th century.
Satur'nian,distinguished for purity, integrity, and simplicity;golden, happy: from "Saturn"—one of the gods of antiquity whose age or reign, from the mildness and wisdom of his government, was called thegolden age.
Socrat'ic,relating to the philosophy or the method of teaching of Socrates—the celebrated philosopher of Greece (468-399 B.C.).
stento'rian,very loud or powerful, resembling the voice of Stentor—a Greek herald, spoken of by Homer, having a very loud voice.
Thes'pian,relating to tragic action: from "Thespis"—the founder of the Greek drama.
Titan'ic,enormous in size and strength: from the "Titans"—fabled giants in classic mythology.
Uto'pian,ideal, fanciful, chimerical: from "Utopia"—an imaginary island, represented by Sir Thomas More, in a work called "Utopia," as enjoying the greatest perfection in politics laws, and society.
volta'ic,relating to voltaism or voltaic electricity: from "Volta"—who first devised apparatus for developing electric currents by chemical action.
ag'ate,a precious stone: "Achates," a river in Sicily where it is found.
al'abaster,a variety of soft marble: "Alabastrum," in Egypt, where it is found.
ar'ras,tapestry: "Arras," in France, where it is manufactured.
arte'sian,applied to wells made by boring into the earth till the instrument reaches water which flows from internal pressure: "Artois" (anciently called Artesium), in France, where many of such wells have been made.
At'tic,marked by such qualities as characterized the Athenians, as delicate wit, purity of style, elegance, etc.: "Attica," the country of the Athenians.
ban'tam,a small domestic fowl: "Bantam," in Java, whence it was brought.
barb,a Barbary horse: "Barbary," in Africa.
bay'onet,a dagger fixed on the end of a musket: "Bayonne," in France, where it was invented, in 1679.
bedlam,a lunatic asylum: "Bethlehem," a monastery in London, afterwards used as an asylum for lunatics.
bur'gundy,a French wine: "Burgundy," where it is made.
cal'ico,a kind of cotton cloth: "Calicut," in India, where it was first manufactured.
cana'ry,a wine and a bird: the "Canary" Islands.
can'ter,an easy gallop: "Canterbury," in allusion to the easy pace at which the pilgrims used to ride thither.
car'ronade,a short cannon: "Carron," in Scotland, where it was first made.
cash'mere,a rich shawl, from the wool of the Thibet goat: "Cashmere," the country where first made.
chalced'ony,a variety of uncrystalized quartz: "Chalcedon," in Asia Minor, where obtained.
champagne',a wine: "Champagne," in France, where produced.
cher'ry,a red stoned fruit: "Cerasus" (now Kheresoun), in Pontus, Asia Minor, whence the tree was imported into Italy.
chest'nut,a fruit: "Castanea," in Macedonia, whence it was introduced into Europe.
cog'nac,a kind of French brandy: "Cognac," in France, where extensively made.
cop'per,a metal: "Cyprus," once celebrated for its rich mines of the metal.
cord'wainer,a worker in cordwain, or cordovan, a Spanish leather: "Cordova," in Spain.
curaçoa',a liquor or cordial flavored with orange peel: the island of "Curaçoa," where it was first made.
cur'rant,a small dried grape: "Corinth," in Greece, of which "currant" is a corruption.
dam'ask,figured linen or silk: "Damascus," in Syria, where first made.
dam'son,a small black plum: (shortened from "Damascene") Damascus.
delf,a kind of earthenware: "Delft," in Holland, where it was orignally made.
di'aper,a figured linen cloth, used for towels, napkins, etc.: "Ypres," in Flanders, where originally manufactured.
dim'ity,a figured cotton cloth: "Damietta," in Egypt.
gamboge',a yellow resin used as a paint: "Cambodia, where it is obtained.
ging'ham,cotton cloth, made of yarn dyed before woven: "Guincamp," in France, where it was first made.
guin'ea,an English gold coin of the value of twenty-one shillings: "Guinea," whence the gold was obtained out of which it was first struck.
gyp'sy,one of a wandering race: old English "Gyptian," from "Egypt," whence the race was supposed to have originated.
hol'land,a kind of linen cloth: "Holland," where first made.
hol'lands,a spirit flavored with juniper berries: "Holland," where it is extensively produced..
in'digo,a blue dye: "India".
jal'ap,a cathartic medicine: "Jalapa," in Mexico, whence it was first imported in 1610.
jet,a mineral used for ornament: "Gagates," a river in Asia Minor, whence it was obtained.
lan'dau,lan'daulet,a kind of carriage opening at the top: "Landau," a town in Germany.
madei'ra,a wine: "Madeira," where produced.
magne'sia,a primitive earth: "Magnesia," in Thessaly.
mag'net,the loadstone, or Magnesian stone.
malm'sey,a wine: "Malvasia," in the Morea.
mar'sala,a wine: "Marsala," in Sicily.
mean'der,to flow in a winding course: "Meander," a winding river in Asia Minor.
mil'liner,one who makes ladies' bonnets, etc.: "Milan," in Italy.
moroc'co,a fine kind of leather: "Morocco," in Africa, where it was originally made.
nankeen',a buff-colored cloth: "Nankin," in China, where first made.
pheas'ant,a bird whose flesh is highly valued as food: "Phasis," a river in Asia Minor, whence it was brought to Europe.
pis'tol,a small hand gun: "Pistoja," in Italy, where first made.
port,a wine: "Oporto," in Portugal, whence extensively shipped.
sardine',a small Mediterranean fish, of the herring family: "Sardinia" around whose coasts the fish abounds.
sauterne',a wine: "Sauterne," in France, where produced.
sher'ry,a wine: "Xeres," in Spain, where it is largely manufactured.
span'iel,a dog of remarkable sagacity: "Hispaniola," now Hayti, where originally found.
tar'iff,a list of duties or customs to be paid on goods imported or exported: from an Arabic word,tarif, information.
to'paz,a precious stone: "Topazos," an island in the Red Sea, where it is found.
trip'oli,a fine grained earth used in polishing stones: "Tripoli," in Africa, where originally obtained.
turquois',a bluish-green stone: "Turkey," whence it was originally brought.
worst'ed,well-twisted yarn, spun of long-staple wool: "Worsted," a village in Norfolk, England, where first made.
antarc'tic: Gr.anti, opposite, andarktos, a bear. Seearctic.
archipel'ago: Gr.archi, chief, andpelagos, sea, originally applied to the Ægean Sea, which is studded with numerous islands.
arc'tic: Gr.arktikos, fromarktos, a bear and a northern constellation so called.
Atlan'tic: Lat.Atlanticus, from "Atlas," a fabled Titan who was condemned to bear heaven on his head and hands.
ax'is: Lat.axis, an axletree.
bar'barous: Gr.barbaros, foreign.
bay: Fr.baie, from Lat.baia, an inlet.
can'cer: Lat.cancer, a crab (the name of one of the signs of the zodiac).
cape: Fr.cap, from Lat.caput, head.
cap'ital: Lat.capitalis, fromcaput, head.
cap'ricorn: Lat.caper, goat, andcornu, horn (the name of one of the signs of the zodiac).
car'dinal: adj Lat.cardinalis, fromcardo, cardinis, a hinge.
chan'nel: Lat.canalis, fromcanna, a reed or pipe.
cir'cle: Lat.circus, from Gr.kirkos, a ring.
circum'ference: Lat.circum, around, andferre, to bear.
cit'y: Fr.cite, from Lat.civitas, a state or community.
civ'ilized: Lat.civilis, pertaining to an organized community.
cli'mate: Gr.klima, klimatos, slope, the supposed slope of the earth from the Equator to the poles.
coast: Old Fr.coste(New Fr.côte), from Lat.costa, rib, side.
con'fluence: Lat.con, together, andfluere, to flow.
con'tinent: Lat.con, together, andtenere, to hold.
con'tour: Lat.con, together, andtornus, a lathe.
coun'ty: Fr.comte, from Lat.comitatus, governed by a count.
degree': Lat.de, andgradus, a step
diam'eter: Gr.dia, through, andmetron, measure.
Equa'tor: Lat.equus, equal.
es'tuary: Lat.æstuare, to boil up, or be furious, the reference being to the commotion made by the meeting of a river-current and the tide.
frig'id: Lat.frigidus, fromfrigere, to be cold.
geog'raphy: Gr.ge, the earth, andgraphe, a description.
globe: Lat.globus, a round body.
gulf: Fr.golfe, from Gr.kolpos, bosom, bay.
har'bor: Anglo-Saxon,hereberga, frombeorgan, to shelter.
hem'isphere: Gr.hemi, half, andsphaira, sphere.
hori'zon: Gr.horizein, to bound.
In'dian(ocean): India.
isth'mus: Gr.isthmos, a neck.
lake: Lat.lacus, a lake.
lat'itude: Lat.latitudo, fromlatus, broad.
lon'gitude: Lat.longitudo, fromlongus, long.
merid'ian: Lat.meridies(=medius, middle, anddies, day), noon.
metrop'olis: Gr.meter, mother, andpolis, city.
mon'archy: Gr.monarchés, frommonos, alone, andarchein, to rule.
moun'tain: Fr.montagne, from Lat.mons,montis, a mountain.
ob'late: Lat.oblatus(oband past part. offerre, to bring), brought forward.
o'cean: Gr.okeanus, fromokus, rapid, andnacin, to flow.
Pacif'ic: Lat.pacificus, frompax,pacis, peace, andfacere, to make.
par'allel: Gr.para, beside, andallelon, of one another.
penin'sula: Lat.penes, almost, andinsula, island.
phys'ical: Gr.physis(phusis), nature.
plain: Lat.planus, flat.
plane: Lat.planus, flat.
pole: Gr.polos, a pivot.
polit'ical: Gr.polis, a city or state.
prom'ontory: Lat.pro, before, andmons,montis, a mountain.
relief': Fr.relever, from Lat.relevare, to raise.
repub'lic: Lat.res, an affair, andpublica, public: that is, acommonwealth.
riv'er: Fr.rivière, from Lat.ripa, a shore or bank.
sav'age: Fr.sauvage, from Lat.silva, a wood.
sea: Anglo-Saxon,sæ, the sea.
soci'ety: Lat.societas, fromsocius, a companion.
ad'jective, Lat.adjectivus, fromadandjacere, to add to:a word joined to a noun or pronoun to limit or describe its meaning.
ad'junct, Lat.adjunctus, fromadandjungere, to join to:a modifier or subordinate element of a sentence.
ad'verb, Lat.adverbium, fromad, to, andverbum, word, verb:a word used to modify the meaning of a verb, an adjective, or another adverb.
anal'ysis, Gr.analusis, fromanaandluein, to unloose, to resolve into its elements:the separation of a sentence into its constituent elements.
antece'dent, Lat.antecedens, pres. part. ofantecedere, to go before:the noun or pronoun represented by a relative pronoun.
apposi'tion, Lat.appositio, fromad, to, andponere, to place beside:the state of two nouns put in the same case without a connecting word between them.
ar'ticle, Lat.articulus, a little joint:one of the three words, a, an,orthe.
auxil'iary, Lat.auxiliaris, fromauxilium, help, aid:a verb used to assist in conjugating other verbs.
case, Lat.casus, fromcadere, to fall, to happen:a grammatical form denoting the relation of a noun or pronoun to some other word in the sentence.
clause, Lat.claudere,clausum, to shut:a dependent proposition introduced by a connective.
compar'ison, Lat.comparatio, fromcomparare, to liken to:a variation in the form of an adjective or adverb to express degrees of quantity or quality.
com'plement, Lat.complementum, fromconandplere, to fill fully:the word or words required to complete the predication of a transitive verb.
com'plex(sentence), Lat.complexus, fromconandplectere, to twist around:a sentence consisting of one independent proposition and one or more clauses.
com'pound(sentence), Lat.componere(=conandponere), to put together:a sentence consisting of two or more independent propositions.
conjuga'tion, Lat.conjugatio, fromconandjugare, to join together:the systematic arrangement of a verb according to its various grammatical forms.
conjunction, Lat.conjunctio, fromconandjungere, to join together:a word used to connect sentences or the elements of sentences.
declen'sion, Lat.declinatio, fromdeclinare, to lean or incline:the process of giving in regular order the cases and numbers of a noun or pronoun.
ellip'sis, Gr.elleipsis, a leaving or defect:the omission of a word or words necessary to complete the grammatical structure of the sentence.
etymol'ogy, Gr.etumologia, frometumon, the true literal sense of a word, andlogos, a discourse:that division of grammar which treats of the classification and grammatical forms of words.
fem'inine(gender), Lat.femininus, fromfemina, woman:the gender of a noun denoting a person of the female sex.
gen'der, Lat.genus,generis, kind:a grammatical form expressing the sex or non-sex of an object named by a noun.
gram'mar, Gr.gramma, a letter, through Fr.grammaire: the science of language.
imper'ative(mood), Lat.imperativus, fromimperare, to command:the mood of a verb used in the statement of a command or request.
indic'ative(mood), Lat.indicativus, fromindicare, to proclaim:the mood of a verb used in the statement of a fact, or of a matter taken as a fact.
inflec'tion, Lat.inflexio, frominflectere, to bend in:a change in the ending of a word.
interjec'tion, Lat.interjectio, frominterandjacere, to throw between:a word which expresses an emotion, but which does not enter into the construction of the sentence.
intran'sitive(verb), Lat.intransitivus=in, not, andtransitivus, fromtransandire,itum, to go beyond:a verb that denotes a state or condition, or an action not terminating on an object.
mas'culine(gender), Lat.masculus, male:the gender of a noun describing a person of the male sex.
mode. Seemood.
mood, Lat.modus, through Fr.mode, manner:a grammatical form denoting the style of predication.
neu'ter(gender), Lat.neuter, neither:the gender of a noun denoting an object without life.
nom'inative(case), Lat.nominativus, fromnomen, a name:that form which a noun has when it is the subject of a verb.
noun, Lat.nomen, a name, through Fr.nom:a name-word, the name of anything.
num'ber, Lat.numerus, through Fr.nombre, number:a grammatical form expressing one or more than one of the objects named by a noun or pronoun.
ob'ject, Lat.obandjacere, to set before:that toward which an activity is directed or is considered to be directed.
objec'tive(case), Lat.objectivus, fromobandjacere:the case which follows a transitive verb or a preposition.
parse, Lat.pars, a part:to point out the several parts of speech in a sentence and their relation to one another.
par'ticiple, Lat.participium, frompars, part, andcapere, to take, to share:a verbal adjective, a word which shares or participates in the nature both of the verb and of the adjective.
per'son, Lat.persona, the part taken by a performer:a grammatical form which shows whether the speaker is meant, the person spoken to, or the person spoken of.
phrase, Gr.phrasis, a brief expression, fromphrazein, to speak:a combination of related words forming an element of a sentence.
ple'onasm, Gr.pleonasmos, frompleion, more:the use of more words to express an idea than are necessary.
plu'ral(number), Lat.pluralis, fromplus,pluris, more:the number which designates more than one.
possess'ive(case), Lat.possessivus, frompossidere, to own:that form which a noun or pronoun has in order to denote ownership or possession.
poten'tial(mood), Lat.potens,potentis, being able:the mood of a verb used in the statement of something possible or contingent.
predicate, Lat.prædicatum, frompræanddicare, to proclaim:the word or words in a proposition which express what is affirmed of the subject.
preposi'tion, Lat.præpositio, frompræandponere, to put before:a connective word expressing a relation of meaning between a noun or pronoun and some other word.
pro'noun, Lat.pronomen, frompro, for, andnomen, a noun:a word used instead of a noun.
prop'osition, Lat.propositio, fromproponere(proandponere), to put forth:the combination of a subject with a predicate.
rel'ative(pronoun), Lat.relativus, fromreandferre,latus, to bear back:a pronoun that refers to an antecedent noun or pronoun.
sen'tence, Lat.sententia, fromsentire, to think:a combination of words expressing a complete thought.
sim'ple(sentence), Lat.simplex, fromsine, without, andplica, fold:a sentence having but one subject and one predicate.
sub'ject, Lat.subjectus, fromsubandjacere, to place under:that of which something is predicated.
subjunc'tive(mood), Lat.subjunctivus, fromsubandjungere, to subjoin:the mood used in the statement of something merely thought of.
syn'tax, Gr.suntaxis, fromsun, together, andtaxis, arrangement:that division of grammar which treats of the relations of words in sentences.
tense, Lat.tempus, time, through Fr.temps:a grammatical form of the verb denoting the time of the action or event.
tran'sitive, Lat.transitivus, fromtransandire,itum, to pass over:a verb that denotes an action terminating on some object.
verb, Lat.verbum, a word:a word that predicates action or being.
voice, Lat.vox,vocis, voice, through Fr.voix:a grammatical form of the transitive verb, expressing whether the subject names the actor or the recipient of the action.
addi'tion, Lat.additio, fromaddere, to add.
al'iquot, Lat.aliquot, some.
arith'metic, Gr. adj.arithmetike, numerical, from n.arithmos, number.
avoirdupois', Fr.avoir du pois, to have [a fixed or standard] weight.
cancella'tion, Lat.cancellatio, fromcancellare, to make like a lattice (cancelli), to strike or cross out.
cent, Lat.centum, a hundred.
ci'pher, Arabicsifrun, empty, zero.
cube, Gr.kubos, a cubical die.
dec'imal, Lat.decimus, tenth, fromdecem, ten.
denom'inator, Lat.denominare, fromdeandnominare(nomen, a name), to call by name.
dig'it, Lat.digitus, a finger.
div'idend, Lat.dividendus, to be divided, fromdividere, to divide.
divis'ion, Lat.divisio, fromdividere, to divide.
divi'sor, Sp.divisor, that which divides, from Lat.dividere, to divide.
dol'lar, Ger.thaler, an abbreviation ofJoachimsthaler, i.e. a piece of money first coined, about 1518, in the valley (thal) ofSt. Joachim, in Bohemia.
equa'tion, Lat.æquatio, fromæquus, equal.
expo'nent, Lat.exponens, pres. part. ofexponere, to set forth (=exandponere).
fac'tor, Lat.factor, that which does something, fromfacere,factum, to do or make.
fig'ure, Lat.figura, shape, fromfingere, to form or shape.
frac'tion, Lat.fractio, fromfrangere, to break.
in'teger, Lat.integer, untouched, whole.
in'terest, Lat.interest= it interests, is of interest (3d per. sing. pres. indic. ofinteresse, to be between, to be of importance).
min'uend, Lat.minuendus, to be diminished, fromminuere, to lessen.
mul'tiple, Lat.multiplex, frommultus, much, andplicare, to fold.
mul'tiply,multiplication, etc. Seemultiple.
naught, Anglo-Sax.nawhit, fromne, not, andawihtorauht, aught, anything.
nota'tion, Lat.notatio, fromnotare, to mark (nota, a mark).
numera'tion, Lat.numeratio, fromnumerus, a number.
quo'tient, Lat.quoties, how often, how many times, fromquot, how many.
subtraction, Lat.subtractio, fromsubandtrahere, to draw from under.
u'nit, Lat.unus, one.
ze'ro, Arabicçifrun, empty, cipher.
1To teachers who are unacquainted with the originalWord-Analysis, the following extract from the Preface to that work may not be out of place:—"The treatment of the Latin derivatives in Part II. presents a new and important feature, to wit: the systematic analysis of the structure and organism of derivative words, together with the statement of their primary meaning in such form that the pupil inevitably perceives its relation with the root, and in factmakesits primary meaning by the very process of analyzing the word into its primitive and its modifying prefix or suffix. It presents, also, a marked improvement in the method of approaching the definition,—a method by which the definition is seen togrow out ofthe primary meaning, and by which the analytic faculty of the pupil is exercised in tracing the transition from the primary meaning to the secondary and figurative meanings,—thus converting what is ordinarily a matter of rote into an agreeable exercise of the thinking faculty. Another point of novelty in the method of treatment is presented in the copious practical exercises on theuse 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. Such a realization can only be gained byusingthe 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 oncesimplicityandfruitfulness,—the two desiderata of an instrument of elementary discipline."2"Etymology," Greeket'umon, the true literal sense of a word according to its derivation, andlog'os, a discourse.3"Vocabulary," Latinvocabula'rium, a stock of words; fromvox, vocis, a voice, a word.4By theLowGerman languages are meant those spoken in the low, flat countries of North Germany, along the coast of the North Sea (as Dutch, the language of Holland); and they are so called in contradistinction toHighGerman, or German proper.5For the full definition, reference should be had to a dictionary; but in the present exercise the literal or etymological signification may suffice.6Fen'do,fen'dere, is used in Latin only in composition.7Another mode of spellingdefense.8Frompassandover, a feast of the Jews instituted to commemorate the providential escape of the Jews to Egypt, when God, smiting the first-born of the Egyptianspassed overthe houses of the Israelites, which were marked with the blood of the paschal lamb.9For the explanation of the etymology see Webster'sUnabridged.10Foris different fromfore, and corresponds to the Germanver, different fromvor.A,be,for,ge, are often indifferently prefixed to verbs, especially to perfect tenses and perfect participles, as well as to verbal nouns.—BOSWORTH.11Sterwas the Anglo-Saxon feminine termination. Females once conducted the work of brewing, baking, etc., hence brewster, baxter; these words were afterwards applied to men when they undertook the same work.Steris now used in depreciating, as in trickster, youngster.
1To teachers who are unacquainted with the originalWord-Analysis, the following extract from the Preface to that work may not be out of place:—
"The treatment of the Latin derivatives in Part II. presents a new and important feature, to wit: the systematic analysis of the structure and organism of derivative words, together with the statement of their primary meaning in such form that the pupil inevitably perceives its relation with the root, and in factmakesits primary meaning by the very process of analyzing the word into its primitive and its modifying prefix or suffix. It presents, also, a marked improvement in the method of approaching the definition,—a method by which the definition is seen togrow out ofthe primary meaning, and by which the analytic faculty of the pupil is exercised in tracing the transition from the primary meaning to the secondary and figurative meanings,—thus converting what is ordinarily a matter of rote into an agreeable exercise of the thinking faculty. Another point of novelty in the method of treatment is presented in the copious practical exercises on theuse 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. Such a realization can only be gained byusingthe 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 oncesimplicityandfruitfulness,—the two desiderata of an instrument of elementary discipline."
2"Etymology," Greeket'umon, the true literal sense of a word according to its derivation, andlog'os, a discourse.
3"Vocabulary," Latinvocabula'rium, a stock of words; fromvox, vocis, a voice, a word.
4By theLowGerman languages are meant those spoken in the low, flat countries of North Germany, along the coast of the North Sea (as Dutch, the language of Holland); and they are so called in contradistinction toHighGerman, or German proper.
5For the full definition, reference should be had to a dictionary; but in the present exercise the literal or etymological signification may suffice.
6Fen'do,fen'dere, is used in Latin only in composition.
7Another mode of spellingdefense.
8Frompassandover, a feast of the Jews instituted to commemorate the providential escape of the Jews to Egypt, when God, smiting the first-born of the Egyptianspassed overthe houses of the Israelites, which were marked with the blood of the paschal lamb.
9For the explanation of the etymology see Webster'sUnabridged.
10Foris different fromfore, and corresponds to the Germanver, different fromvor.
A,be,for,ge, are often indifferently prefixed to verbs, especially to perfect tenses and perfect participles, as well as to verbal nouns.—BOSWORTH.
11Sterwas the Anglo-Saxon feminine termination. Females once conducted the work of brewing, baking, etc., hence brewster, baxter; these words were afterwards applied to men when they undertook the same work.Steris now used in depreciating, as in trickster, youngster.