LITERATURE. 97 



Lexicography (Gr. lexis, diction, and ffrapho, I write). — The 



art of composing dictloitaries. 

 Lex'icon. — A book containing the words of a hxnguage arranged 



alphabetically and defined. The term was originally, and 



is still usually, confined to dictionaries of the Greek and 



Hebrew tongues. 

 Magazine'. — A periodical work containing miscellaneous matter. 

 Manuscript. — A book or paper written with the hand or pen. 

 Martyrol'ogy. — A history or account of martyrs, with their 



suiferiugs. 

 Met'aphrase. — A version or translation of one language into 



another, word for word ; opposed to Paraphrase. 

 Mis'cellany. — A book or pamphlet containing a collection of 



compositions on various subjects, or a collection of various 



kinds of compositions. 

 Nov'el. — A fictitious tale or narrative in prose, intended to ex- 

 hibit the operation of the passions, and particularly of love. 

 Odyssey. — An epic poem attributed to Homer ; the subject is 



the return of Ulysses from Troy to Ithaca. 

 Pam'phlet. — A small book consisting of a sheet of paper, or of 



sheets stitched together, but not bound. 

 Pandect. — A treatise which contains the whole of any science. 

 Pantol'ogy (Gr. pas, pantos, all, and logos, a discourse). — A 



syistcmatic view of all branches of human hnowledge. 

 Par'aphrase. — A loose or free translation ; opposed to ]Meta- 



I'lIRASE. 



Pasquinade'. — A lampoon or satirical writing. 



Polyglot. — A book containing many languages, or in which 

 are comprised versions in many languages. 



Preface. — Observations prefixed to a literary work intended 

 to inform the reader respecting its design, plan, etc. 



Prose. — Composition not in verse, and without metre or poetic 

 measure. 



Pura'na. — One of a class of sacred poetical books in the Hindoo 

 language which treats of the creation, destruction, and 

 renovation of worlds, the genealogy of gods and heroes, the 

 reigns of the Manus, and the transactions of their descend- 

 ants. The Puranas are eighteen in number. 



Review'. — A critical notice of a literary work. Also, a 

 periodical publication, giving critical examinations or 

 analyses of books, a character of them, and remarks upon 

 them ; as " Tlie Edinburgh Review" 

 E 9 



