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XXVI. An Examination of Dr PARR'S Observations on the Ety- 

 mology of the word Sublimis. By GEORGE DUNBAR, A. M. 

 F. R. S. E. Professor of Greek in the University of Edin- 

 burgh. 



( Read January 9- 1826.J 



N the course of some inquiries into the affinity and structure 

 of the Greek and Latin languages, I was led to analyse the su- 

 perlative degree of both *, and to trace, as I thought, some con- 

 nection between it and the word Sublimis. While engaged in 

 the investigation, I was naturally led to examine the common 

 theories respecting the etymology of this remarkable word, and, 

 in particular, the origin assigned to it by the late Dr PARR, and 

 to weigh, with more attention than I had previously done, the 

 arguments and proofs he had advanced in support of his opi- 

 nions. All that I knew of them, till lately, was by verbal report, 

 as I had not seen the abridged statement of them in an Appen- 

 dix to the Notes of the 2d edition of Mr STEWART'S Essays. 



Of the immense erudition of the late Dr PARR no one can 

 have a more profound admiration than myself. If I might, how- 

 ever, be allowed to express my opinion of his merits as a scholar, 

 I would say that the extent of his memory was prodigious ; that 

 his knowledge of classical literature was, perhaps, beyond that of 

 any man of his day ; but that his judgment was sometimes warp- 

 ed by prejudices and opinions, which he adopted with enthu- 

 siasm ; and upon which he brought the boundless stores of his 



* On this subject I shall probably, in a short time, submit to the Society a few 

 observations. 



