ANALYTIC ORTHOGRAPHY. 307 
In comparing the first pair with the Latin original éxtranéus, we find that cs of EX has 
been elided from the French, and ec from the English form, so that this apparent inter- 
change is an example of elision. But this will not account for the next forms. 
219. In Spanish (which differs from Italian in this feature) initial S is not followed by 
some consonants (f, p, v, m, l, n, d, g, c, q); but as es followed by c &c. is a common ini- 
tial combination, there is a feeling that the initial S in SC-, &., ought to make a distinct 
syllable, a feeling which is realised by prefixing e-, whence { scorpion-is became escorpion, 
spécieés especie, &e. 
220. This incompatibility of certain sequents occurs to a less extent in French, in which, 
although words commencing with sp-, sc-, st-, exist, there is a tendency to prefix E-, form- 
ing ésp-, ésc-, ést-, and the syllable being attained, the next tendency is to get rid of the 
S, which was an unstable element, even in Latin. This accounts for the following French 
forms, none of which are examples of a transmutation of S to E. 
spéciés stomachus spiritus stabuli™ 
espéce estomac esprit é,.table 
Hungarian has o similarly prefixed in ostoba (stupid) and oskola (school,) adapted from the 
Latin. 
CHAPTER X. 
ELISION. 
Such a renovation and extension of the reform of philosophy appears to belong peculiarly to our own time. We may 
discern no few or doubtful presages of its approach; and an attempt to give form and connexion to the elements of such 
a scheme cannot now be considered premature.— Whewell, Pref. to Hist. “of the Inductive Sciences. 
§ 221. Hlision is a prominent agent in breaking up by an organic process, the forms of 
words as built up by a mental process, and it causes much difficulty in etymologic inves- 
tigations. In Anglish it causes a/ to mean an awl and an eel, by reducing the Latin AcuLa 
and AngviLla to the same dimensions. The German zeétel (= tsetl) as a note or billet, is 
cut down from sCIDuLa, and as the chain or warp in weaving—from CATEnuLa a little 
(caténa) chain, preserved also in the German kette. 
222. Some nations reject parts of words which others retain, causing differences in lan- 
guages of the same stock, as Welsh and Irish. The English four, Welsh pédwar (e in met, 
Eng. w) and Irish cathar (each a in at,) bear so little resemblance to each other, that with- 
out their history, it would be rash to consider them cognates. They are, moreover, cited 
VoL. x1.—40 
