“ 
See ee ee eee NS 
SYNONY MOUS TERMS. 113 
ing, that the magnitude is eftimated, not from the extenfion of 
the object in all the directions that can take place on a furface, 
but in that of a ftraight line, that is either perpendicular or ho- 
rizontal, according to the nature of the object fpecified. Ap- 
plied to the human form and to trees, it denotes tallnefs ; and 
to fifhes and four footed animals in their natural pofition, 
length. The general proportions in each, at the fame time, are 
underftood to fubfift, according to the law obferved in the reft 
of their kind. “ Gallorum quifque procerifimus ad pompam 
“ triumphi le¢tus *.”— Sues procero corpore, capitibus ut fint 
** parvis f.” : 
Proceras manibus vertere fraxinos t. 
——— quo pertinet ergo 
Proceros odiffe lupos? quia {cilicet illis 
Majorem natura modum dedit, his breve pondus §. 
HUMIDUS, UvIDUS, MADIDUs, agree in denoting the quality 
of wetnefs, but differ as to the manner in which it is generated 
and retained. Humidus implies, that the object which it fpe- 
cifies not only contains moifture, but is fitted to fupply the 
wafte of it, whether by evaporation or otherwife. It comes 
from humor, and that from humus, and regards the ground as 
furnifhing a conftant fupply to thofe fprings which break forth 
at different parts of its furface. ‘“ Premiffo Cecina ut occulta 
“* faltuum pontefque et aggeres, humido paludum, et fallacibus 
“ campis imponeret **.”” Hwmidus then, in its primitive fenfe, 
refers to a fubject as formed by the hand of nature, and poflef- 
fed of a quality which, when abfent, cannot be imparted, and 
when prefent, cannot be deftroyed. 
Vot. III. p THE 
* Sueton. Calig. 47. § Hor. Sat. 2. 2. 35. 
+ Var. de Re. Rs 2.7. ** Tac, Ann. 1. 61, 
{ Hor. Car. 2. 25. 16, 
