INTRODUCTION. Vll 



really consist of two components, though each or both of them 

 may be compounds. In words of this class the first component 

 takes the chief accent and gives the key-note to the meaning. 

 Such as : Versteinerungs-kunde, paleontology, lit., a knowl- 

 edge of petrifaction ; Ausdrucks-fahigkeit, ability of expres- 

 sion; Verviel-faltigung, manifolding; Aufeinander-folge, 

 sequence; Vereinigungs-streben, affinity; Abstrebe-kraft, 

 repulsive force. 



.. If the student will regard these " long words " as an abridged 

 phrase and give each component its proper force as modified by 

 its allied parts, and not try to get a meaning of the word as a 

 whole without regard to its elements, but few such compounds 

 will remain refractory. This suggests the only rule for treating 

 long words : read them by their respective component parts. A 

 peculiarity, which has perhaps been already observed, facilitates 

 the application of this rule. It is this : whenever a new German 

 word is needed, simple words in that language are sought 

 which will give the attributes or qualities, derivation or meaning, 

 of the thing or property to be named ; these elemental words are 

 joined together frequently with slight etymological changes, form- 

 ing a new word only in the arrangement of its elements. In 

 our own language we find such new words derived from Latin 

 or Greek elements, so that to feel the full force of them a 

 knowledge of these latter languages is necessary. While the 

 feature just named is common to German words of all classes, it 

 is of especial importance in words of a technical character, since 

 it is in the growing sciences that new terms are needed for the 

 substances, elements, properties, and actions, which daily call for 



