II. 4 Essay upon the Utinity of DEFINING SYNONYMOUS 
Terms in all Languages; with Illuftrations by Examples 
from the Latin. By foun Hitt, LL.D. F.R.S. Epin, and 
Profeffor of Humanity in the Univerfity of Edinburgh. 
[Read by the Author, Feb. 18. 1788.] 
ORDS that are precifely equivalent are rarely, if at all, 
to be met with in any language. Thofe properly called 
Synonymous, exhibit one leading circumftance in which they all 
agree, and one or more acceflory circumftances in which they 
differ. When the point of their general coincidence, and the 
grounds of their particular diverfities, are clearly afcertained, 
it is then in the power of the writer to ufe them with propriety. 
By the affliftance of the grammarian, he knows which to adopt 
and which to reject, and can reconcile embellifhment with ac- 
curacy and precifion.  _ 
TueE excellence of any language may in a great meafure be 
judged of, by the number of fynonymous terms that belong to 
it. A multiplicity of them, under fkilful management, creates 
no hurtful redundancy. On the contrary, it enables every au- 
thor of tafte to exhibit his thoughts with energy and luftre. 
For the moft delicate variety of fhades in thought, he is fur- 
nifhed with a correfponding variety in expreflion ; and the lan- 
guage in which he conveys his idea, becomes a complete pic- 
ture of the idea itfelf. 
Tue author of this eflay is abundantly fenfible, that though 
the Latin tongue prefents many clafles of fynonymous terms, 
yet 
