238 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 aftervi^ards 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 s^ren^iA, and the vevh strengthen, 

 and the adverb strongly 1 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 a 

 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 employed; and in place of -'to strengthen," "to make strong," 

 and instead of " strongly," " in a 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 sought 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 



