56 On Figurative Language. 
The analogies by which words may be 
transferred from a proper meaning to 2 
figurative one, are, in general, so obvious, 
that there is no difficulty m applying a word 
to a new meaning, nor in understanding the 
application. Words, thus affected, are con- 
stantly used by the speaker, and equally well 
tinderstood by his hearers. In many; perhaps 
in most instances, the analogies are so obvious, 
that we are not aware, except by reflecting on 
the subject, that the words used are diverted 
from their proper extra-figurative signification. 
Thus, for example, the expressions go on, 
stop, though in their proper meaning they ap- 
pear to be applicable to some kind of motion, 
e.g. walking ; yet they are as readily applied 
to the action of speaking, reading, writing, and 
a variety of other actions, and are as easily 
understood. 
This is the natural, and indeed ‘the ne- 
cessary progress of the creation of words m 
the formation of a language. Were new 
sounds ‘to be embodied on-every fresh occa- 
sion, were it allowable on no emergency to 
| adapt an old'word to anew meaning, language 
would immediately become more unwieldy 
than the armour of Goliah. As speech is now 
managed, a speaker has no occasion to be at 
a loss for the want of a word to express his 
2 
