94 On Figurative Language. cs 
or in other words, that nouns form the ele- 
ments of all language, and that these names, 
appropriated to sensible objects, were trans- 
lated, (to use the Latin term) not only to 
signify other sensible objects of similar pro- 
perties or form, but likewise to. express quali- 
ties, actions, &c. as already pointed out, it 
must follow of course, that all nouns, except 
those used in a proper meaning, (0. e. ori- 
ginally appropriated to sensible objects) that 
all adjectives and verbs, without exception, 
and, consequently, all the words derived from 
them, are to be viewed originally as figurative 
language; for the very essence of figurative 
language consists in changing words from 
their originally proper meaning. 
As the purposes of communication thus 
required words to be constantly used in a 
figurative sense, 7. e. either as figurative nouns, 
or as adjectives and verbs, it would happen in 
various instances, from different causes,* that. 
words came to be disused in a literal meaning, 
and only the figurative use to be continued. 
From the time of this change, their commenly 
received meaning must be regarded as the 
proper one, and every other meaning, even 
Ss? 
that in which they were originally used, as 
* Those causes, whatever they be, which effect the con- 
stant flux of language. 
