ORISMOLOGY. 31 J 
GENERAL RULES. 
In the above tables no notice is taken of diminutives, 
compounds, and similar terms, because it seemed best, 
with respect to these, to lay down only some general 
rules which may include the whole. 
Rule I. 
Terms in English ending in die, ule, or let, and which 
in Latin add lus, la, or lum, to a word, diminish its sense. 
As, Dentil, a little tooth ; SeUde, a little bristle ; Eyelet, 
a small eye: Benticulus, a little dens; Guttufo, a little 
gutta; Punctuhm, a little punctum. N.B. Where length 
or breadth are concerned, the diminutive implies a di- 
minution in the length of the predicate. As, Lineola, 
Lineolct, a short line; Striola, Striolet, a short stria; 
Fascio/a, Fasciolet, a short fascia. 
Rule II. 
The preposition sub prefixed to any word reduces the 
sense of it. As, ^punctate, not fully punctate; Sub- 
hirsute, not fully hirsute, &c. 
Rule III. 
The termination cuius in Latin words added to a com- 
parative implies the state of the object comparatively. 
As, Comexiusculus, rather convex than not; Majus- 
culus, rather large than not. This is usually denoted in 
English by the termination ish, or the adverb rather; 
as, largish, rather large, &c 
Rule IV. 
The participle present used instead of the adjective 
