The Theory and Structure of Language. ]05 



names of the ideas of the parts or properties of things; which might 

 be derived from the names of some things, and applied to others, 

 which in these respects resembled them ; these are termed adjectives, 

 as rosy cheek, manly voice, beastly action; and seem at first to have 

 been formed simply by a change of termination of their correspondent 

 substantives. The comparative degrees of greater and less were 

 found so frequently necessary to be suggested, that a change of ter- 

 mination even in our language for this purpose was produced; and is 

 as frequently used as an additional word, as wiser or more wise. 



The expression of general similitude, as well as partial similitude, 

 becomes so frequently used in conversation, that another kind of 

 adjective, called an adverb, M r as expressed by a change of termina- 

 tion, or addition of the syllable ly or like; and as adjectives of the 

 former kind are applied to substantives, and express a partial simili- 

 tude, these are applied to verbs and express a general similitude, as 

 to act heroically, to speak boldly, to think freely. 



The perpetual chain of causes and effects, which constitute the 

 motions, or changing configurations, of the universe, are so conve- 

 niently divided into active and passive, for expressing the exertions 

 or purposes of common life, that it became particularly convenient 

 in all languages to substitute changes of termination, instead of addi- 

 tional nouns, to express, whether the thing spoken of was in a state 

 of acting or of being acted upon. This change of termination 

 betokening action or suffering constitutes the participle, as loving, 

 loved; which, as it expresses a property of bodies, is classed amongst 

 adjectives in the preceding pages. 



Besides the perpetual allusions to the active or passive state of 

 things, the comparative times of these motions, or changes, were also 

 perpetually required to be expressed; it was therefore found conve- 

 nient in all languages to suggest them by changes of terminations in 

 preference to doing it by additional nouns. At the same time the 

 actual or real existence of the thing spoken of was perpetually re- 

 quired, as well as the times of their existence, and the active or pas- 

 sive state of that existence. And as no conversation could be carried 

 on without unceasingly alluding to these circumstances, they became 

 in all languages suggested by changes of termination; which are 



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