J 79-* a dictionary, -x^ 



superficies, and i^% great vaor^ particularly regards the quanti- 

 ty of matter, therefore, when /rtrg-f is applied to any object, 

 which is not merely superficial, it denotes thaVit is the ex*- 

 tent of surface that is there meant to be considered, without 

 regard to the other dimensions j whereas when the tttm. great 

 is employed, it has a reference to the whole contents. If 

 therefore we say. a large house^ or alarge river, we expreCs 

 that the river or the house have a surface of great extent, 

 without having any necefsary connection with the size in 

 other respects : but if we say a great house, or a great 

 river, it at once denotes that they have not only a large 

 surface,- but are also of. great, size, in every respect. 



3. Great, when, applied to the human species, never - 

 denotes the size, orlargenefs of the body, but is applied 

 solely to the qualities of. the mind.. Thus when we say 

 that Socrates was a great maa, we do not mean that he 

 was a man of great size, but that he was a man who e.'c- 

 celled in the endowments of the mind. 



The terms which denote . largenefe of size in the human 

 body, are big, bulky, huge, &c.- 



4. Gr.eat is sometimes applied to the human species 

 as denoting high rank. In this case it is oftener used ia - 

 the plural number than otherwise ; thus we say the 

 great, ineaning the whole, body of men in high station, . 

 as opposed to mean. It fhould seldom be employed in 

 this sense, as it tends to confound dignity of rank with 

 elevaiion of-mind.. 



5. As this is a general term of augmentatloH, it may be 

 joined with all nouns, which denote quantity, quality, num- 

 ber . uKcellcnce, or defects ; or such as imply praise, blarney . 

 anger, contempt, or any other affection of the mind. 



6. It is employed to denote every step of ascending or 

 descending consanguinity, as great grandfather, great 

 grandson, &c. 



