On Figurative Language. 91 
or property for which it was most remark- 
able. 
_ Lastly, it is easy to imagine how position 
would change a noun into a verb, because it is 
now practised very extensively in our own 
language ; as is well exemplified in the follow- 
ing expressions: Flag the floor; floor the 
house; John, load the horse. Here flag, 
floor, load, are verbs, merely by the position, 
assisted, perhaps, by the utterance and into- 
nation of voice. Sometimes it is not easy to 
determine whether a word is a noun or a verb, 
as in the sentence, “ Jol is prone to love.” — 
But I forbear to produce examples. 
Adjectives were originally formed from 
nouns, in nearly the same manner as verbs. 
A word closely joined to another in position 
and utterance, would signify the addition of 
its own most prominent attributes or proper- 
ties. When, for instance, it was necessary to 
call any man strong, or swift, the name of the 
animals most distinguished for those qualities, 
was joined to his name. Thus lion-man, 
would obviously enough express the notion 
of a bold, strong, and courageous man; and 
swvallow—or swift man, signify a man that 
can move with great rapidity. The adjec- 
tiving * of nouns to nouns, in this manner, is 
* A word used by Horne Tooke. 
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