238 —(C. On Definitions. 
sider what uses they serve, and afterwards what are their imperfec- 
tions. 
First, what is their use? Why is it, that after having it settled 
among a society of human beings what idea shall be conveyed by 
the word strong’, it is afterwards agreed that a particular modification 
of this idea shall be expressed by the word stronger, and another by 
the word strongest, that still further modifications of the same idea, 
shall be conveyed by the noun strength, and the verb strengthen, 
and the adverb strongly? Why are these changes made upon the 
word, and why are these new forms of the word limited to the ideas 
commonly conveyed by them? The answer will readily occur. 
The objects attained by these changes of the word, are brevity and 
precision. Brevity introduced the custom; precision is found to be 
promoted by it, and is a much greater advantage than that which 
actually was intended. 
Brevity was the object aimed at in these changes, or virtual defi- 
nitions. Thoughts rise in the mind, and succeed one another, in far 
more rapid succession, than any language can express them. Every 
method, therefore, which improves the quick and ready transmission 
of thought, is eagerly adopted, and almost invariably practiced. And 
more especially when the same idea occurs frequently in any dis- 
course, we naturally seek for shorter methods of expressing it, being 
tired and dissatisfied with every thing circumlocutory. Proofs of 
this may be readily found in the examples already produced. How 
the comparison so readily and clearly denoted by the word stronger, 
was expressed before this form of it, or one corresponding to it, was 
adopted, it is not easy to ascertain with certainty. Perhaps by @ 
repetition of the word strong. More repetitions might have been 
used to express the idea now denoted by the word strongest. To 
denote strength, some such phrase as “ being strong,” must have 
been ployed; and in place of ‘to strengthen,” “to make strong,” 
and instead of “strongly,” “ina strong manner.” It is manifest 
that the introduction of these shorter expressions must have been 
felt as a relief by every speaker. 
But the brevity which was so much souglit for, and which gives 
so much satisfaction, in these abbreviated expressions, is far from be- 
ing the greatest advantage to which they gave rise. Before the 
abbreviation took place, there must have been much room for variety 
of expression, and consequently for uncertainty in the idea conveyed. 
By adopting one uniform mode of expressing the same idea, a great 
