82 Rev Mr WiuiaMs on the Force of the prefiv Ve or Ve 
a ray of hope, derived immediately from specio, through spes, we 
see the same difference of quantity. It therefore appears evi- 
dent, that vesperugo, and consequently vesperus, signifies the time 
which the Scottish peasant so appropriately calls “ the gloaming,” 
known in England under the name of the evening twilight. 
Vespices. We find this word only in the work of Frsrus *, 
who interprets it “a dense thicket, from its similarity to a gar- 
ment.” This is poor work, and most probably due to Pau.us. 
Vespices has evidently the same etymology as vesperus, and means 
an opake thicket. On the same principle, Virerr partly ascribes 
the capture of Euryauus to the “ tenebra ramorum +.” 
Vestibulum, a vestibule, an entrance to a house, literally a 
standing place, “ a wee stall or stable.” 
The favourite etymology of this very familiar word, has hi- 
therto been that propounded by Ovin in the following lines { : 
«« At focus a flammis, et quod fovet omnia dictus ; 
Qui tamen in primis zedibus ante fuit : 
Hine quoque vestibulum dici reor ; unde precando, 
Dicimus, ‘ O Vesta, que loca prima tenes :” 
or, as now printed, 
ct h.. ct bey. saseoaess - Eb ee inde precando, 
Affamur Vestam, quz loca prima tenes.” 
According to this explanation, vestibulum was so denominated from 
the altar of Vesta, that is, the hearth, fire-place, which, in ancient 
times, was “ in primis edibus,” in Scottish words “ the but-end 
of the house.” The authority, however, of AXLt1us Gaus, a 
Roman lawyer (and, I may add, that sound, well-taught lawyers 
are the best authority for the meaning of words), enables me to 
* <* Fruteta densa, dicta a similitudine vestis.-—Fxstus, under Vespices, p. 1006. 
+- An. ix. ver. 384. + Fasti, lib. vi. ver. 102. 
