GRAMMAR. 
II. Of the Adnnun. 
21. We apply the term adnnun to those 
single words which are added to nouns to 
vary their comprehension, or to vary or 
determine their extension. Those which 
affect the former object are called adjec- 
tives ; those which effect the latter we call 
restrictives. It is not, perhaps, in all cases, 
easy to say to which of these classes an ad- 
noun should be referred, because the two 
objects are not always distinguishable ; but 
in general those which denote qualities are 
adjectives, and those which denote situa- 
tion, possession , or number are restrictives. 
22. The adjective is exactly equivalent 
to a noun connected with another noun by 
means of juxtaposition, or of a preposition, 
or of corresponding flexion. E. g. A gol- 
den cup is the same with a gold cup, or a 
cup of gold; a prudent man is the same as 
a man of prudence, or vir prud entice. It has 
been already observed, that the Greek and 
Latin genitive, our preposition of, and juxta- 
position, are all equivalent procedures, 
though custom has produced a variety ' in 
the mode of their application : we now add, 
that the adjective is another equivalent; 
and further, that the connection denoted 
by the adjective is equally indefinite with 
the others. E. g. A healthy colour is a 
colour caused by health; a healthy exercise is 
exercise causing health. And the use of all 
these procedures is the same, to particula- 
rize the general term, by connecting with 
the qualities which are included under it 
some quality which the general term does 
not include. In many instances, to denote 
that the name of a quality is used thus in 
connection with some other name, that is, 
in fact, that it is used as an adjective, cer- 
tain terminations are employed significant 
of such connexion ; and Mr. H. Tooke in- 
forms us, that those by which the simple 
adjectives are formed, viz. en, ed, and ig 
(our modern y) convey, all three, the desig- 
nation that the names to which they are an- 
nexed are to be joined to some other names ; 
and this by their own intrinsic meaning, for 
they signify give, add, join. “ So the ad- 
jectives wooden and woollen ,” he continues, 
“ convey precisely the same ideas, are the 
names of the same things, denote the same 
substances, as the substantives wood and 
wool: and the termination en only puts them 
in a condition to be joined to some other 
substances, or rather gives us notice to ex- 
pect some other substances' to which they 
are to be joined." 
23. Most languages which admit of in- 
flection carry it through their adjectives as 
well as nouns. In some, the adjective is 
varied to express difference in the gender, 
number, and case of the connected noun. 
Where great liberty of inversion is desir- 
able, these variations are convenient, be- 
cause they point out with what noun the 
adjective is connected : where juxtaposition 
ascertains this they are unnecessary, since 
they make no change in the signification of 
the adjective. The signification of the ad- 
jective wise, e. g. is unchanged, whether it 
be applied to one man or woman, or (o 
twenty men or women; whether its sub- 
stantive be stated singly, or conjoined with 
others, as the names of the parents, place of 
abode, &c. of those to whom it is applied. 
The French always place the adjective close 
to its noun, yet they make changes on it to 
denote the gender of the connected noun. 
This is always unnecessary ; but sometimes 
it contributes to elegance, by preventing 
an aukward circumlocution. 
24. The qualities denoted by adjectives, 
may, in general, vary in degree: some, as 
dimensions and weight, may be measured 
with accuracy; and the Comparative de- 
gree of some qualities, at least of heat and 
cold, can be ascertained with precision. 
Many, however, are incapable of exact 
measurement ; and the cases in which the 
exact degree of the quality cannot be as- 
certained, are few in comparison with those 
in which it is unnecessary. When w'e use 
terms to express a greater or less degree of 
a quality, we may either make a direct and 
particular reference to the degree in which 
it is possessed by other objects, or use them 
without such reference. In the former 
case, we are said to compare the qualities ; 
and variations of the adjective, to express 
this comparison, are called degrees of com- 
parison. The difference between the com- 
parative and superlative in our language, 
consists in the manner of construction 
merely, and not in the degree of tjie qua- 
lity : thus, Solomon was wiser than any 
other king of Israel, is the same as, « Solo- 
mon was the wisest of the kings of Israel.” 
lhe comparative is used, when we speak 
ot an object as distinct from those with 
which we compare it; the superlative, when 
it is spoken of as one of those with which 
we compare it. Man is the noblest of ani- 
mals, but not the noblest of the brute crea- 
tion, otherwise he must be one of the brute, 
creation : he is nobler than the brutes, but 
not than all animals, or he must be nobler 
