236 On Definitions. 
* 
Arr. I1.—On Definitions ; by Rev. D. Winkie, of Quebec. 
oboe’ No. IV. 
Z 
Definitions in Grammar.—There are two sorts of definitions in 
grammar; one peculiar to the science properly so called, and an- 
other practiced in all articulate languages, and which it is the chief 
object of grammar to reduce to precision. The former comprehends 
the definitions of terms-introduced by the grammarian, such as noun, 
verb, tense, number, and all the other grammatical terms and phrases 
which are brought into use, when men begin to indulge their specu- 
lations on the subject of language, and to Jay down roles for its reg- 
ulation and for its improvement. ‘The other sort of definitions, com- 
prehends those which are employed in all languages, and which are 
introduced by custom alone, varied and altered from time to time by 
the same cause. Of this kind are the distinctions of the singular 
and plural numbers, of present, past and future times, of the agent 
and subject of an action, with many other distinctions which the ne- 
cessities of human intercourse require, and which every different 
language has its own method of supplying. 
It is on these later distinctions, that I intend at present to make 
some observations. And first, I observe, that though not given out 
as such, they are in their nature definitions.* Whenever custom has 
introduced the practice of using one form of a word to denote the 
singular or a single object, and another to denote the plural or any 
indefinite number of objects, this practice amounts to a virtual and 
tacit definition. One word, or one form of the word, is then ever 
after appropriated to signify one object, and another word, or an- 
t form of the same word, is appropriated to signily more objects 
than one. It is immaterial whether the alteration is made on the 
end of the words, as is more common, or on the beginning, or on the 
middle of it; or by prefixing one or annexing another. In what- 
ever of these modes the alteration is made, the purpose is the same, 
namely, to mark a useful distinction, and to shorten discourse by eX- 
pressing in one letter or syllable, or at least one word, what would 
otherwise require a considerable circumlocution. 
_ The same observation is true of all the other distinctions and chan- 
ges upon words, introduced in the progress of language. Changes 
+ They may be termed the “definitions of deriyatives.” 
