on the Etymology of the word Sublimis. 351 



whom I communicated my objections to Dr PARR'S theory, has 

 pointed out a few of its fundamental defects. With some of his 

 statements, however, I find I cannot agree ; but this is not the 

 place or the time to discuss them ; my present business is with 

 Dr PARR'S theory. The general remarks of that profound scholar 

 (contained in Article I. of the Appendix to the 2d edition of STEW- 

 ART'S Essays) on the power of custom and habit to communicate 

 grandeur and dignity to expressions, which, in their primary ac- 

 ceptation, suggest low, and sometimes disagreeable ideas, but 

 which, when compounded with other words, and applied meta- 

 phorically, convey more elevated notions, I shall pass over, as, 

 however true they may be in particular instances, they will not 

 hold in every other. His arguments and examples in support of 

 the derivation of Sublimis from Supra-limum, I shall examine 

 with as much care and attention as I can. 



" In the formation (says the Doctor) of Sublimis, the process of 

 the mind seems to me to be this : Limus has the property of " ob- 

 structing." That to which the word Sublimis is applied, is " raised 

 above the obstructing cause." It can soar, it does soar, and thus 

 the notion of " soaring indefinitely" is familiarised to the mind. 

 The origin of the word, and its literal signification, did not pre- 

 sent themselves to the speaker or hearer." It has too often hap- 

 pened in etymological speculations, that persons particularly con- 

 versant with them, are very apt to be led astray by a similarity 

 in the sound of words, and to task their ingenuity to the utmost 

 to discover some kind of association between them. 



If we inquire into the meaning of the word limus in the best 

 Latin authors, we shall, I believe, scarcely find an instance where 

 the property of " obstructing" is attributed to it. It sometimes 

 denotes " tenacity," as in the following passage from VIRGIL 

 Georg. iv. v. 45. 



" Tu tamen e levi rimosa cubilia lima 

 Ungue fovens circum" - 



VOL. X. P. II. 



