on the Etymology of the word Siiblimis. 353 



sound, are of different extraction, and so different as to be adapt- 

 ed even to contrary significations. Let it be remarked that I am 

 going to speak of sub, when compounded with a verb, to express 

 " elevation." 



Before entering upon an examination of the examples Dr 

 PARR has produced in support of his theory, I shall inquire 

 whether the derivation he has given of the preposition sub, 

 when compounded with verbs denoting " elevation," be cor- 

 rect. The Latin preposition sub has always been considered as 

 formed immediately from the Greek preposition vvo, and super 

 from vn% ; the Latin, as it is well known, substituting in several 

 instances an s for the Greek spiritus asper. Dr PARR, however, 

 says, that when sub signifies " elevation," it came from vvlg, and 

 that vvig, like VTO, lost the closing letters, and that p was changed 

 into b. He adds, " I never saw this stated in any book, directly 

 or indirectly, but no conjecture was ever more clear, or more sa- 

 tisfactory to my mind ; and it solves all difficulties." Notwith- 

 standing the high authority of the Reverend Doctor, I suspect 

 few Latin scholars would be inclined either to derive the prepo- 

 sition sub from UT^, or to allow that sub, in composition with any 

 verb, was ever used by any Latin author, with the force and 

 meaning of super. To me it appears, that he has entirely mis- 

 taken the precise meaning of sub in composition with some par- 

 ticular verbs : for in its general acceptation it cannot, by any 

 shew of reasoning, be confounded with super. I state it as my 

 decided opinion, and I am sure to be supported by every scho- 

 lar who knows any thing of the subject, that, whenever sub oc- 

 curs in composition, even when it may appear to denote " eleva- 

 tion," it is derived from vvo, and not from vvtg. The Greek pre- 

 position vvsg stands in the relation to vvro as comparative to 

 positive, as it is unquestionably the fragment of the compara- 

 tive vTTigog, by a syncope for virtg-urtgo/; ; as oVaros, the super- 

 lative, is for vvsg-curaro?. Let it be observed, that VTO denotes un- 

 der, but always in relation to a higher object ; and hence, where- 



vy 2 



