LECTURE I. that which expresses simply affirmaton or indi-cation, derived from indico, compounded of in and dico

that which expresses simply affirmaton or indi-cation, derived from indico, compounded of in and dico, I say. The subjunctive means that which is joined to or under something else, namely, depending on it; and the mood thus designated, from sub under and junctus joined, is that which expresses the same intention as the indicative, not absolutely, however, but upon some condition, from which it is, in English Grammar, called the conditional mood, a word also derived from the Latin. The imperative is used to express a command, from the Latin impero, I command, from whence we have "emperor" and " imperious." The infinitive is that mood which is expressed without reference to time or person, and neither absolutely or conditionally; the word by which it is designated signifying without limit, from in, used negatively, and finis, the end. The poten­tial mood, seldom noticed in modern English Grammars, denotes the power or possibility of performing any action, and is expressed by the auxiliaries may or can. It takes its name from the Latin potens, able or powerful.

It is now usual to describe verbs in English as having only two simple tenses, the present and the past, both named from Latin words adopted into the English language. But Murray has several others, as the imperfect, or unfinished; the perfect, or completed; the pluperfect, or more fully completed; and the future, that which

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is yet to come to pass;—all deriving their names from the Latin. The active and passive voices are likewise named from Latin words adopted into the English language. The same observation applies to the degrees of comparison in adjectives; the positive, that which is simply set forth, or laid down, from positus, placed; the comparative, that which is compared with another, from comparo, or comparare, to compare; and the superlative, that which is carried above or beyond all others, from super, above, and latus, borne or carried.

To the foregoing may be added the four great divisions (itself a Latin-derived term) of Gram­mar, which, however, were like the word " gram­mar" itself originally derived by the Romans from the Greek. Orthography means the correct method of writing, that is, spelling the language, from two Greek words, meaning correct writing. Etymology relates to the true origin and meaning of words, from two Greek words signifying true and a word. Syntax treats of the orderly con­nection and construction of words in a sentence; derived also from two Greek terms indicating an orderly arrangement. Lastly, prosody, which treats of the quantity or accent of words, and the proper manner of speaking and reading, and of the different kinds of verse, is so called from two Greek words signifying a song set forth in order; and from the same noun we have an ode, a term by which a piece of poetry is designated.

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