236 On Definitions. 



Art. III. — On Definitions; by Rev. D. Wilkie, of Quebec. 



No. IV. 



Definitions in Grammar. — Tiiere 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 lay down rules 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 ari- 

 other form of the same word, is appropriated to signify 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, 

 namelv, 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. Ciianges 



* They may be termed the " definitions of derivatives." 



