Студопедия
Случайная страница | ТОМ-1 | ТОМ-2 | ТОМ-3
АрхитектураБиологияГеографияДругоеИностранные языки
ИнформатикаИсторияКультураЛитератураМатематика
МедицинаМеханикаОбразованиеОхрана трудаПедагогика
ПолитикаПравоПрограммированиеПсихологияРелигия
СоциологияСпортСтроительствоФизикаФилософия
ФинансыХимияЭкологияЭкономикаЭлектроника

CONTINUED. I proceed with the consideration of words adopted into English, derived from Latin verbs, usually formed by prefixing a preposition.

Quot; That he may seek occasion against us."—Gen. xliii. 18. | LECTURE II. | See Sullivan's Dictionary; (Introduction, p. lxiv. &c.) in which the Latin and Greek roots of words in English are enumerated. | LECTURE II. | Quot; Back from pursuit thy pow'rs, with loud acclaim, Thee only extoll'd."— Milton's Paradise Lost | LECTURE II. | LECTURE II. | Torment with ease, and soonest recompense Dole with delight."—Milton: Paradise Lost. ‡ English Roots. Third Edition, page 149. | CONTINUED. | To make one.—Bailey and Richardson. |


Читайте также:
  1. CONTINUED.
  2. CONTINUED.
  3. CONTINUED.

I proceed with the consideration of words adopted into English, derived from Latin verbs, usually formed by prefixing a preposition.

From maneo to remain, or stay, mansus, re­mained, we have a " mansion" where we usually remain; and in Scotland a parsonage is called the " manse," where the minister of the parish abides. That which remains through, or continuously, is said to be " permanent," and of the same signi­fication are " permanence " and " permanency." To " remain" is to stay behind, to abide in a place, although others may leave it: and hence the " remainder," as also a " remnant," means that which has been left behind after the rest has been taken away.

From medeor, to heal, we have " medical" and " medicine," which imply a " remedy" or healing



LECTURE IV.


again of that which was diseased; while in a metaphorical sense also, healing measures are said to be " remedial;" but if evils cannot be cured or removed, the case is " irremediable," that cannot be remedied.

MedĬtor, to think upon, has been adopted with little variation, meaning to " meditate," whence we have " meditative" and " meditation." To " premeditate" is to think upon a subject before hand: and when a line of conduct or a speech is adopted at the moment, without " premeditation," it is " unpremeditated;" and I may add, generally not the better for being so.

MĬgro, to migrate, gives us " migration," which means a removal or change of place. " Emigra­tion" is applied to going out from the country of of one's birth,* and " immigration," a modern word introduced from America, applies to the arrival of persons into one country from another. A " transmigration" is a removal across from one place or state to another, and the word is usually applied to the heathen philosophers' metempsy­chosis, or imaginary passing of souls from human beings to other animals.

MĬneo, to hang over, or beyond, is the root of such words as " eminence," a part rising above the rest, the summit; and "eminent," surpassing,as

* The Latin word emigro is derived from ex meo agro, i, e, " I go out of my land."


LECTURE IV. 95

a mountain over the plain. The word sounding somewhat similar, "imminence," means literally hanging over,in being changed to im; " immi­nent" danger is that which is impending, threaten­ing.* " Pre-eminent" is eminent above or before others, implying precedence even amongst the more exalted in rank or virtue. "Prominent " means hanging forward, projecting, and hence more conspicuous. " Supereminent" is a superlative, conveying the idea of distinction in any excel­lence above all others. " Minatory" means threat­ening.

MĬnuo, to lessen, and minŪtus, lessened, give us " minikin," a word used contemptuously, to mean very small, and a " minim" the name of the shortest note in ancient music, although no longer so. One of the smallest fish taken on our coasts is called the "minnow." The word "minimum" is the least, the opposite to " maximum," the greatest. A " minion " meant a favourite, one raised from a low condition without merit, and so the term was applied to the sycophants about the courts of kings. " Minor" is less, and a young man is so called while he is less than or under the full age, which period of his life is therefore called his " minority." In logic, the term is applied to the second proposition in the syllo-

* "---------- Three times to-day

You have defended me from imminent death."— Shakspeare.



LECTURE IV.


gism; and in music, to a chant on a lower key. " Minus" also means less, and is used in that sense in arithmetic; and printers call the smaller kind of type by the term " minion." A " miniature" is a small protrait. A " minute" is a small por-tion of time; and the word is also applied to brief acts of proceedings at any meeting. " Minute," as an adjective, means small or slender, and "mi­nuteness" is smallness. " Minutiae," plural, mean the smallest particles. To "comminute" is to break into small pieces; and " comminution" is pulveriza­tion. To "diminish" is to make less; from which we have " diminution" and " diminutive," as likewise the opposite " undiminished."

From misceo, to mix, mixtus or mistus, mixed, we have "mix" and "mixture"; also "admix­ture," where things are mixed or added to others; " commix," to mingle together; and " intermix," to mix between, making an " intermixture." A book is called a " miscellany," when it contains a " mixture" of various kinds of literary matter, which is hence called "miscellaneous," that is, mingled or composed of different kinds. " Pro­miscuous" indicates mixed confusedly, indiscri­minate. That which is free from any intermixture of other matter is " unmixed."

The Latin verb mitto, to send, with its parti-ciple missus, sent, supplies many English words, formed, with few exceptions, by prefixing one of the several prepositions, either to the indicative


LECTURE IV. 97

or to the participle. The few compounded with nouns will be noticed hereafter. A " missile" is a weapon sent out, as an arrow or a javelin; in poetry it is found as an adjective,* and that which may be thus sent is called " missive," a word also applied as a substantive, to a letter sent by one to another. A " missionary" is one sent on a " mission," which latter word is applied not only to the sending, but also to the persons sent. To "admit" is to send to, and is applied to giving " permission" to enter, or pass through, which is granting "admission"; as the person or subject to whom " admittance" is given is said to be "admissible," or, on the contrary, "inadmissible." To "commit" is properly to send together, im­plying the act of more than one; but it is applied, generally, to signify to deliver to the care of another; and it is used simply to express the doing of any action, as a man is said to " commit" a crime. A " commitment" is the act of sending a party accused of a crime to prison, when he is sent and delivered to the care of the jailer. To do this, the person committing another on a charge, or for the " commission" of the crime, must himself have a " commission" in another sense, namely, an authority " committed" to him for so doing. The persons to whom the manage­ment of the affairs of any institution are assigned,

* "We bend the bow, or wing the missile dart."— Pope.

 


98 LECTURE IV.

usually for a definite period, are called a " com­mittee;" and those appointed for more perma­nent governance are designated " commissioners." A " commissary" is an official to whom a charge is " committed," and who acts as a deputy for another. In a military sense, such is the desig­nation of the officer who has charge of furnishing provisions, &c. for the troops; and the "commis­sariat" means a body of officers to whom is committed the procuration and conveyance of provisions, ammunition, and other necessaries for an army. To " compromise" a right or any matter in dispute, is to adjust and settle it between the parties; the word is compounded of two prepositions, com (for cum) and pro, with the past participle of mitto, and means literally sent forward together. This is done when each party puts forth his claims for the purpose of com­parison, with a view to ascertain whether either cannot yield something to the other, and so settle the matter between themselves, without resort to legal proceedings. It implies mutual concession, without which it will be found difficult to con­duct the affairs of life, with wisdom and advan­tage to ourselves or to the community to which we belong. To " demise" is to send or put away the possession of, to transfer or convey to another; and as a substantive the word is applied to death, that is, the decease or departure from life. To " dismiss" is of similar derivation, but


LECTURE IV. 99

implies an act done towards another, a sending rather that a giving away. To " emit" is to send out, or to issue forth; and an "emissary" is one sent forth, generally applied in a bad sense, as one sent out secretly, a spy. " Emission" is the act of sending out, to which the opposite is " immission," a sending in; like emigration and immigration. To " intermit" is to go between; and " intermission" means cessation for a time— between whiles. " Intermittent" fits are such as come and go at intervals. To " omit" is to put or lay aside, o for 6b being used augmentatively, that is, increasing the force of the original word. An " omission" means a neglect of duty, the opposite to " commission." To " permit" is literally to send through; hence it means to allow one to pass; and to give this is to grant " permission" to another to do what he desires. To " premise" is to send before, or previously; that is, to propose a matter; and the " premises," in logic, are the propositions set out in the first place. In law, the word is used to denote circum­stances set forth previously to the covenants, as also houses or lands proposed to be conveyed. A " promise" is that sent forward, as, when one promises any thing, reference is made to some­thing to be done at a future time. A " promis­sory" note is a writing promising payment at a stipulated time. The word " promise" is usually applied to future good; but it may be found used


 



LECTURE IT.


to imply assurance of ill.* To " remit" is to send back; hence to grant" remission" of punishment is to relax, or put it back. A "remittal" is a giving up; but a " remittance" means money sent from one place to another. To " submit" is to place under; and hence signifies to yield, in vulgar phrase to knock under. The person who per­forms an act of " submission" is said to be " submissive." A " surmise" is a supposition or conjecture, implying a fixing of the mind upon an object, sur being put for super, or it may be for subter, referring to the private nature of the act, like subterfuge. To " transmit" is to send across from one place or person to another; " transmission" is the act of so sending; and any thing that may be thus sent is said to be " trans­missible"; while the thing sent from one to another is " transmissive" or transferable. Besides these, we have the opposites to some of the fore­going words, formed by the English negative prefix un, as " uncommissioned," and " unremitting."

From moneo, to put in mind, monĪtus, warned, we have "monition," a warning; and " monish," more usually " admonish," of which it is a contraction, to give warning to. From this verb are also derived the names of the " monitor" and " monitress" in a school, whose business it is

* " Will not the ladies be affear'd of the lions?

I fear it, I promise you."--Shakspeare: Twelfth Night.


LECTURE IV. 101

to warn of faults and to inform of duty, to give careful hints. As we have seen, minatory is threatening, but " monitory" means giving admo­nition.* A "monument" and a "monumental" inscription are intended to put people in mind of the departed. An " admonition" is similar to a " monition," but refers generally to advice given orally, rather than to a written warning. To " summon" is to call for an appearance, to cite with authority. It may be so called, because a " summons" is a citation demanding an appear-ance, always under a penalty— sum for sub. Some etymologists, however, trace it to the French; and others, with much apparent good reason, to the Anglo-Saxon samnian, to call together, to bring to the same place; and it has been justly observed that " our old French and Latin law writers may have early corrupted it, into a form which gives it so apparent an affinity with the Latin."†

From monstro, to show, and its participle monstrĀtus, pointed out, we have " monster," and " monstrous," used to describe any thing extraordinary, or out of the usual course of nature, and worthy of being pointed out A " muster," anciently written mostre, of troops,

* " The king made a statute monitory and minatory towards jus­tices of the peace."— Bacon's Henry VII. † Richardson's Dictionary, in verbo. See also English Roots, p. 183.



LECTURE IV.


from the French, is a show of men at a review, to which they are said to be " mustered." When the solution of a proposition is pointed out it is " demonstrated;" and a " demonstration" is defined by Locke to be " where the agreement or disagreement (of ideas) is by this means plainly and clearly perceived, it is called demonstration, it being shown to the understanding, and the mind made to see that it is so." A " demon­strator" is one who demonstrates. To " remon­strate" is to urge reasons against any previous judgment, recalling or re-presenting the circum­stances again to the mind; a " remonstrance" is a strong representation; and a " remonstrant" is one who urges his reasons in strong terms.

Moveo, to move, and motus, moved, supply the root of many familiar words in English. The verb to " move" is itself little altered from the Latin; and from it we have " mover," " movable," and " movement," as also " remove," "remov­able" and " removal," implying a moving again; and the opposites, "unmovable" and " unmoved," formed by the English negative prefix un; and " immovable" and " irremovable," the negative prefix in being changed to im in the former case, and to ir in the latter. From the past participle are derived " motion," with its opposite (formed by the English privative affix) "motionless." A " motive" is that which may or can move, that is, actuate or incline to any thing; and the word is


LECTURE IV. 103

used literally also, as we speak of a " motive" power. We have likewise "commotion," a mov­ing together, applied to a riot or tumult, as also to any disturbance or agitation of the mind. An " emotion" signifies a moving out of, and is used to describe excitement of the feelings. To " pro-mote" is to move forth; and " promotion" is the act of advancement or moving forward. " Re­mote" means removed far back or away; and, with the noun " remoteness," is applicable to future as well as past events, to anything that is at a dis­tance.

Muto, to change, and mutĀtus, changed, give us " mutable," " mutability" and " mutableness," all implying change; as the opposites, " immu-table," " immutability" and " immutableness," signify unchangeableness. " Mutation" is a word not now much in use, of the same meaning as mutability. " Mutiny," like other words con­nected with military affairs,* comes to us through the French, and signifies a commotion amongst soldiers or sailors, with a view to effecting some change; and it may be traced either to moveo to move, or to muto to change. The latter seems preferable. A similar rising of the people, gene­rally, is called an " emeute," a French word derived from the Latin moveo or muto. A " mutineer" is one engaged in a mutiny, and the

* See English Boots, page 22. Third Edition.



LECTURE IV.


conduct of such is said to be " mutinous"* To " commute" is to give one thing and to receive another for it. A " commutation" signifies an interchange with or between the parties. It is to be observed that muto may be considered as being itself derived from motus, the participle of moveo; and hence the similarity of some of the words referred to, and the fact that they may be traced to either verb.

From the intransitive or deponent verb nascor, to be born, natus, born or sprung, we have "nas­cent," growing or springing up; and " renascent," reproduced or rising again. This latter word is not in common use; but the French word derived from the same root, " renaissance," is a term in architecture, applied to the partial revival of classic art in the sixteenth century. From the participle we have many words in common use. One's " natal"† day is the anniversary of his birth; and our " native" land is that of our " nativity."

* The term mutiny was not always restricted to the military, as we find it in Shakspeare, applied to the House of Commons:— " Myself have calm'd their spleenful mutiny."

Henry VI. Part 2, Act iii. And again to the multitude at large:—

" Good friends, sweet friends, let me not stir you up To such a flood of mutiny.

Citizens—We'll mutiny"Julius Cæsar. Act iii. sc. 2. † The name of the country, unhappily now notorious through the writings of its bishop, Natal, is derived from the circumstance of its having been discovered by the Portuguese on the feast of the Nativity, Dies Natalis, Christmas-day, 1497.


LECTURE IV. 105

The " natives," or those born in the land, consti­tute the " nation," from which word come " national" and " nationality;" and to " denation­alize," a word derived from the French, is to exclude from the rank of nations. " Cognate" means born together, and is applied to things of the same kind or nature; and " innate" is inborn, that which is natural, as distinguished from what is acquired. The word " nature" also comes from the participle natus; with its derivatives, " natural," agreeable to nature; " naturalist," one who studies natural history; and " naturalize," to grant to foreigners by birth the rights and pri­vileges of a " native," or one born in the land " Preternatural" beyond nature, and " supernatural" above nature, mean that which is out of the bounds, or beyond the ordinary course of nature—miracu­lous. The term " natural" is applied to idiots, implying that they are without any acquired ideas. Of this word " nature," which occurs so frequently, with significations so various and so difficult to be defined, the philosopher Boyle has given an explanation, which Dr. Johnson has considered worthy of being epitomised. Even this epitomy would be too long to quote here; but it may be sufficient to observe, that the word is very variously applied;—and first, to the Author of nature, the great Creator himself; next, to an imaginary being, a kind of semi-deity; in which sense, as Boyle remarks, it is best not to use it at


 



LECTURE IV.


all. The word is also applied to the established course or order of the appearances of the universe; as also to the system of animal and material being. Again, it is opposed to art; and is also used to denote the sensations and passions of ani­mate beings; and finally, it is put for the system of the corporeal works of God; for nature, thus applied, we may use the terms the world or the universe*

We have a few words from necto, to bind, nexus, tied, or knit; as "connect," and " connec­tion" or " connexion," meaning bound or knit together; and the opposites, " disconnect" and " unconnected;" the Latin negative prefix being used in one case, and the English in the other, by one of those arbitrary arrangements which no one can account for. To " annex" is to add or bind to; and " annexation" is the joining of one to another, an being put for ad as a prefix.

From nego, to deny, and negĀtus denied, we have " negation" and " negative," implying a denial or refusal. A " renegade" is one who denies or renounces his faith or allegiance, from an obsolete verb renay, reneg or renege,† to deny; from whence we have " nay" for no. A " denial" is a refusal, as to " deny" is to refuse; and that

♦ See Dr. Johnson's Dictionary. Quarto edition. Also Dr. Richardson's Etymological Dictionary, in verb.

† " Reneges all temper"—that is " denies or refuses all temper.'' (Collier*) Antony and Cleopatra, Act i. sc. 1.


LECTURE IV. 107

which cannot be denied or refuted is " unde­niable.1' The ancient form of the verb was " denay," as it is in Shakspeare.*

From noceo, to hurt, noxus injured, are derived "noxious," hurtful; and " obnoxious," subject to hurt, that is, punishment, and hence applied to that which incurs censure—offensive. The word " nocent" for hurtful, may be consi­dered obsolete; but we have in common use the opposite, "innocent." The words " innocuous" and " innoxious" are interchangeable, and differ from " innocent," which applies to the will of the agent, and so describes his guiltlessness, while " innocuous" implies not having the power to hurt. The term " innocent" is applied to idiots, implying their guiltlessness, as being irrespon­sible†

Nosco, to know, and notus, known, supply us with well-known words. " Notable" means remark­able;† and is now applied to persons, as equiva­lent to observant, attentive to household economy. Of similar import is " noticeable," both words meaning worthy of being known. A " noted" character is sometimes applied in a bad sense, as is "notorious," meaning well-known; and when a man is said to have gotten " notoriety," it usually

• "Then let him be denay'd the regentship."— Henry VI. Part 2, Act i. † See Shakspeare's Lear. Act iii. sc. 6.

‡ " That indeed a notable miracle hath been done by them is mani­fest to all."—Acts iv. 16.



LECTURE IV.


 


 


means that he is " better known than trusted." When any thing is thought worthy of being " noted," or retained in one's knowledge or re­collection, we take a "note" of it.* This latter word is also applied to a short letter conveying a "note" or remark; and to a memorandum in writing, specifying a promise to pay a debt which is thereby acknowledged,† or (to express it in a word derived from the verb nosed) " recog­nised." This latter word, as well as the noun " recognition," implies a recalling to mind; it also refers to a confession of the knowledge of a person or subject; and a "recognisance" is an acknowledgement of an obligation or bond. " Cognizance" and " cognizant," properly legal terms, have come to us through the French, from which language our law terms as well as military phrases have been chiefly derived.‡ A badge by which the retinue of great men were known, or to be " recognized," was called a " cognizance." To "reconnoitre" is also French, derived from the Latin, and applies to a military examination, with a view to get some knowledge of the position and condition of the enemy. The words "notice," " notify," and " notification" refer to making any thing known; the two latter being compounded

♦ " When found make a note of."— Captain Cuttle, in Dombey and Son: by Dickens.

Knowledge and acknowledge are of Anglo-Saxon derivation. See English Roots, pages 23 and 78,


LECTURE IV. 109

with the verbs fio and facio, to be, to make. " Un-noticed" is not noticed or known, that which is not thought worthy of being noted.

Nuncio, to tell, or declare, gives us " announce," " announcement," and "annunciation," all signi-fying a telling to another, ad being for euphony changed to an. To " denounce" is to declare against; and a " denunciation" is a proclamation of threatening. To " enunciate" is to tell out from; and " enunciation" is a declaration of something new: the Latin word nuncio itself being; derived from the Greek neos, new. To " pronounce" and "pronunciation" imply a telling forth; and to " mispronounce" a word is to set it forth incor-ectly. To " renounce" is to reject or disown; and " renunciation" is the act of disclaiming. It is observable that the verb usually has noun, while the substantive generally retains the Latin form nun.

From nutRio, to nourish, we have " nutriment," " nutrimental," " nutritious," and " nutritive;" all relating to aliment or food calculated to nourish and invigorate. A " nursery" is a room devoted to the nourishing or fostering of children; and it is also applied to a garden of young plants and trees. A " nurse" is one who nourishes, supports, or brings up; generally applied to one who has the charge of young children, but also to a watch­ful attendant on sick persons, giving them proper nourishment and attention, day and night. " Nur-



LECTURE IV.


ture" is derived from the same root, but comes to us through the French; and is applied not only to corporeal nourishment, but also to the proper bringing up or moral education of children.*

From opto, to wish, we have "option," and " optional" agreeably to one's wish or will. An " adopted" child is one whom a man chooses to make a member of his family; and the " adop­tion" of any particular course is that which a man adopts or chooses to himself.

Orior, to rise, (ortus, risen) supplies us with " orient," " oriental," and " orientalism;" all refer­ring to the east, where the sun appears to rise. An "oriental" is a native of the east; and one skilled in eastern literature is called an " orientalist." An " abortion" is that which rises or is produced untimely; bad from the very beginning. Efforts which fail of their design are said to be " abor­tive," that is, arisen out of season, or failing for want of time. The " origin" of any thing is the first rise or beginning of it. To " originate" a subject is to give origin to it; and that which is novel and first propounded is said to be " origi­nal," in literature or in the arts; which is also described as " originality." The " aboriginal" inhabitants of a country mean those who occupied it from the beginning, called " aborigines."

* " Bring them Up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord."— Eph. vi. 4.


LECTURE IV. 111

From orno, to adorn, ornĀtus, adorned, we have "ornament" and "ornamental;" as also " adorn" and " adornment." The term " ornate" is usually applied to what is too highly embellished; and a rather new word, " ornamentation," implies an overloading with ornament. To " suborn" properly means to furnish or prepare underhand; and it is used only in a bad sense, to describe the procuring of a person to perform a bad action. " Subornation" of perjury is the crime of procur­ing another to take a false oath.

Oro, to pray, or speak, (orĀtus, besought,) gives us the word " oracle," applied to anything communicated by supernatural power. The term had its origin from the answers supposed to be given by the pagan deities; but we may find the word also applied by English writers, as it is in the authorized version of the Bible, to the word of God.* In allusion to the enigmatical responses at the shrines of the false gods of the ancients, any speech that is ambiguous is described as being "oracular;" and the term is also applied, with similar allusion, to that which assumes great autho­rity, and pretends to great wisdom or foresight. An "orator" is a public speaker; an " oration" that which he delivers; and his powers, if striking,

* " Unto them were committed the oracles of God."— Rom. iii. 2.

It is remarkable that in the Douay translation, winch is usually lessSaxon than the Authorized version, it is in every instance " word" instead of "oracles."



LECTUBE IV.


 


 


are called "oratorical." A "peroration" is the end or close of a speech; so called because the speaker then speaks through, or to the conclusion of his " oration." An " oral"command is one that is given by word of mouth, as contradis­tinguished from one that is written. From this same verb, which signifies praying as well as speaking, we have several words in the sense of beseeching or entreating. Prayers are sometimes called " orisons;" and an " oratory" is a place for prayer. Hence also we have " adore" and " adoration," meaning praying to. The Latin word adorare, to adore, appears to have been itself derived from ad, to, and os (ōris) the mouth, in allusion to the respectful salutation of carrying the hand to the mouth; as Dr. Richardson shews, quoting Gibbon and other authorities. " Adorable" means worthy of adoration or worship. " Exorable," a word not much used, signifies that can be pre­vailed upon by prayer; and " inexorable," more generally in use, means not to be intreated.*

Pareo, to appear, gives us the English words " appear" and " appearance," as also " apparent," with " disappear" and " disappearance," a departure from sight: also " reappear," to appear again. That which can be looked to or upon is " apparent," applied both literally and figuratively; and a " transparency" is a picture which appears through


 


* "


Inexorable dog! "— Skakspeare: Merchant of Venice.


 

LECTURE IV. 113

on either side. An " apparition" is an appearance to a person, and is generally applied to a spectre or walking spirit, as in the case of the ghost in Hamlet. An " apparitor" is an officer of a court who summonses people to " appear."

From paro, to prepare, parĀtus, prepared, comes " parade," by which term is designated an inspection of soldiers " prepared" for review. " Apparel"comes from the same root; as also " apparatus," meaning things prepared or pro­vided. We have likewise the word " prepare," as also " preparatory" and " preparation." To " repair" is to prepare again, and, on the other hand, " irreparable" what cannot be repaired.

Pasco, to feed, gives us " pasture," food for cattle; and "pastoral," relating to the feeding of sheep; from which, in a metaphorical sense, we have " pastor," to describe one whose office it is to give spiritual food to men, figuratively called a flock. An " antepast" means a foretaste, or the anticipation of a feast; and a " repast" is the participation of food, literally a feeding again,

We have several words from patior, to suffer, passus, suffered. Hence comes " patient," applied to a sufferer from illness; while the adjective " patient" and the noun " patience" convey the idea of suffering with calmness and resignation, yet a " patient" in the medical sense of the term may be very " impatient." " Passion" used to be generally applied to suffering of body or



LECTURE IV.


 


 

 


mind; as the word is applied to our Saviour's agony endured for our sakes. The word is now restricted to internal feelings distinguished from corporeal; and " passionate" is applied to one easily moved to anger. " Passive" is opposed to active, and signifies inert, not acting. " Passion­less," or " unimpassioned," means without feeling; but " dispassionate" is always used in a good sense, to signify conduct influenced by reason and facts, rather than by mere feeling. " Compassion" means a feeling with or for another in any afflic­tion, and "compassionate" having a fellow-feeling for another in distress. " Passible" and " impas­sible" are to be found, in Pearson on the Creed, used to designate capability of suffering and the reverse.

From pello, to drive, pulsus, driven, we have " compel," " compulsion," and " compulsory," signifying a driving together with another; and hence implying additional force. To " dispel" is to drive asunder; "expel" to drive out of, from which we have the noun " expulsion"; and " impel" to drive in or against, from whence we have " impulsive" used in a moral sense. " Propel" is to drive forth or forward; and "repel" to drive back; whence, in a moral sense, that which is forbidding is said to be " repul­sive." The "pulse" is that which drives the blood from the heart, and the particular vein in the wrist which goes by that name, is that


LECTURE IV. 115

which indicates the strength or weakness of such " pulsation." To " feel the pulse" is to ascer­tain by the touch the motion of the artery, as the blood is driven through it; and thereby, to find out the force with which the blood is driven from the heart.

Pendeo is to hang down, from which, and its participle pensus, hanging down, we have " pen­dent," hanging; and a " pennon" or " pennant," a small flag that hangs down from the mast of a ship; also "pendant" likewise applied to any hanging ornament, as an earring. From the same root, that which hangs down in a clock, swaying backwards and forwards with a " pen­dulous" or hanging motion,is called a "pendulum." " Pensile" or " pensive" means hanging down. To "append" is to hang to, or add; ap being put for ad; hence an addition at the end of a book is called the " appendix"; and an " appendage" is something added. To "depend" is to hang from or upon, and a " dependent" is one who is in a condition of " dependency" on another— a hanger on; the opposites to these are " indepen­dent" and " independence." That which hangs over is said to " impend," and it is generally applied to danger or calamity " impending." That which hangs down in a perfectly straight line is " perpendicular," the prefix implying that which is through or thorough, or it may refer to such a line cutting through another at right

 


116 LECTURE IV.

angles. A " propensity" towards any thing means hanging forward or towards—being in­clined to; and is now usually applied in a bad sense, to describe a disposition towards evil. To "suspend" is literally to hang under, but it is used rather in the sense of hanging up from below. This word and the noun " suspense" are applied more usually in a figurative sense; while " suspension" is used literally, except where it is applied to a temporary privation of an office. To " suspend" one's judgment is to keep it un­determined; and a state of "suspense" indicates being held in doubt and uncertainty.

From a Latin verb, similar to that which we have been considering, pendo, to weigh, also meaning to pay, and its past participle pensus, w eighed, we have "perpend," to weigh in the mind attentively, as implied by the prefix. To " compensate" is to weigh, as it were by measure, with another what is due to him by way of " compensation" or payment for a loss incurred. To " dispense" is to pay off; and one is said to " dispense" with any thing, or with a person's company, when, having weighed the circumstances well, you give it up. If, on the other hand, you find that you cannot do without it, then it is " indispensable." To dispense with is to obtain a dispensation from, or to come to an agreement with. Johnson considers such a structure irre-

 

LECTURE IV. 117

gular; it is, however, to be found in Shakspeare.*
A " dispensation" is an exemption from some law;
a dispensing or giving up of what might have
been demanded; the word is also applied to the
method of providence and the dealings of God
with his creatures. A " dispensary" is a place
where medicines are weighed or given out. To
" expend" is to pay out of one's income; and
such payments are called our " expenses"; and
when a man's " expenditure" is very great, he is
said to be of " expensive" habits. To " prepend"
means to weigh beforehand, and hence an in­
jurious action thus premeditated is said to be "of
malice prepense." When a man is occupied!

with weighing a matter in his mind, he is " pensive," implying hanging down his head. A " pension" is a settled annual allowance, paid in consideration of past services, which have been duly weighed. Such is the sense in which it is considered in England.† In France, the word is applied to other payments, as a person is de-

* " Canst thou dispense with heaven for such an oath?"— Henry VI. Part 2, Act v. sc. 1.

† Dr. Johnson thus gives the definition of pension: —"In England it is generally understood to mean pay given to a state hireling for treason to his country:" and a pensioner he describes as "a slave of state hired by a stipend to obey his master." This did not, however, prevent the learned Doctor from accepting a well-merited pension himself, in consideration of his literary services. Whatever of truth there may have been in such definitions a century ago, there is, happily, no foundation for them at the present day.



LECTURE IV.


 


 


scribed as living en pension, that is, on payment, in a boarding house. A " pensioner" is one who is entitled to a pension, and is now usually re­stricted to discharged soldiers and sailors; but the word is still used in the sense of paying, instead of receiving, in the University of Dublin, where " pensioners" are distinguished from sizars who do not pay for their education. A " recom­pense" is a reward meted, or measured out, to a deserving person. It is now only applied to a reward for merit; but it was formerly used to indicate a repayment of what was justly due, whether for good or evil conduct.*

From peto, to seek or pray, petĪtus sought, we get " petition," usually ending with the words, " and your petitioners will pray" " Appetence" means strong desire; the ap for ad prefixed for insensity, and to express a desire towards any object. The more common word " appetite" is applied generally to a desire for food. To " com­pete" is to seek together with another; and when, as is now the general rule, an office is open to " competition" it implies a " competitive" exami­nation; for which, to have hope of success, the " competitors" must be " competent." A " compe-


* " Every transgression and disobedience received a just recompence of reward." — Heb. ii. 2. So rendered in Douay Version also. " Seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you."—2 Thess. i. 6. To " repay."— Douay Version.


LECTURE IV. 119

tency" means a qualification to compete; and the word is applied generally to having a sufficiency of anything, and particularly of annual income. The prefix in being used negatively gives " incompe­tent." " Compatible," is a corruption of " com-petible," which Dr. Johnson says—"is found in good writers, and ought always to be used." The word is applicable to any thing that may be sought consistently with our duty; and that which is otherwise is " incompatible." That which urges one to seek after an object gives an " impetus" towards it. This is all right in moderation; but if a man pursue the object with over vehemence, he is said to be " impetuous;" and " impetuosity" describes zeal without judgment. To " repeat" is to ask or speak again; and " repetition" is the asking or speaking of a matter " repeatedly."

Pilo, to pillage, supplies the root of " pilfer," and " pillage." To " compile" is to pick out pas­sages from other men's writings; but when a work is acknowledged to be a " compilation," the " compiler" is not looked upon as a " pilferer."

Placeo, to please, and placĪtus, pleased, give us several words of pleasing sound and sense. A " placid" smile and " placidity" of temper express gentleness and mildness; pleasing to all who wit­ness it, and expressive of the person exhibiting such " placidness" being pleased with themselves and with others. That which gives " pleasure" is " pleasurable;" and a " pleasantry" is a " plea-


 



LECTURE IV.


sant" gaiety. " Complacent" and " complacence" indicate affability and gentleness, making oneself pleasant or agreeable with others; but " compla­cency" is often applied to self-satisfaction, being " pleased" with oneself. " Complaisant" and " com­plaisance" are merely the French for the fore­going words, with similar meaning. Opposite to all these pleasant words, are " displeasing," " dis­pleasure," " unpleasant" and " unpleasantness;" dis being the Latin and un the English prefix conveying a negative.

Plaudo to praise, plausus, praised, gives us " applaud;" the proper meaning of the word being to clap with the hands, expressive of appro­bation; and such " plaudits" have been in all ages the means by which praise or " applause" has been manifested. " Plausible" expresses what may be applauded; but this word, and its derivatives " plausibleness" and " plausibility," are used in a bad sense to signify having a fair appearance, specious—done merely as clap-trap to gain ap­plause. To " explode" originally meant to drive off the stage with a noise of contempt, as hissing, or beating the ground with the feet; being the opposite to " applaud," the prefix ex being opposed to ap for ad. This word and the sub­stantive " explosion" are now applied to driving out of any matter, with noise and violence.

From pleo to fill, pletus, filled, we have " accomplish" to fill up to, and "accomplishment,"


LECTURE IV. 121

conveying the idea of being fully done. The

" complement" of any thing is the filling up of

the entire number or quantity—that which is added for the sake of filling up, this addition being expressed by the prefix com for cum. That which is thus made up fully is " complete;" and to " completion" is opposed " depletion," the act of emptying. " Expletive," signifying filling out, is a term applied to words or syllables, used rather to fill out the line than to add to the sense, and introduced merely to fill up a vacancy.* An " implement" is a name given to anything used in labour, as to tools or instruments. It has been by some derived from in and pleo, as filling the house; by others from the French employer. John­son gives us the first meaning of the word, " some­thing that fills up vacancy, or supplies wants."† " Replete" and " repletion" imply an abundance, a refilling, or filling to excess; and to " replenish" is to fill again, to restore plenty. To " supply" is to fill from the bottom, sup being put for sub as a prefix; or to fill the place of, as sub is often used to signify instead of; thus a sub-constable

• For example, the use of the word do before verbs in the plural, which Pope imagined " future refiners of our language may explode." la poetry it is often necessary, as in the following lines from Pope:— "..... Oft the ear with open vowels tire, While expletives their feeble aid do join."

† "Unto life many implements are necessary; more, if we seek such * life as hath in it joy, comfort, delight, and pleasure."— Hooker, as by Dr. Johnson.



LECTURE IV.


is one who acts under and in the place of a supe­rior officer. Shakspeare has " suppliance," a word now obsolete,* A " supplement" is that which is joined on to make up a deficiency, and such addition is " supplemental" or " supplementary." Of many of the foregoing we have the opposites, formed either by the Latin preposition in, or the English prefix un used negatively, as " incom­plete," " unaccomplished," &c.

From plico, to bend, or fold, and plicĀtus, folded, we have " pliable" and " pliant," that may be bent; and to " ply" is to urge on a work dili­gently, as a rower will bend to his oars in " ply­ing" a boat. The word is used to express any earnest work, or solicitation.-)- Of similar mean­ing" is " apply," with its derivatives " applicant," " application" and " applicability;" ap for ad being prefixed, to signify a plying to any person or thing. That which is applied to any thing suc­cessfully is called an " appliance."‡ " Complicate" and " complication" are from the participle plica-

* " Forward, not permanent, sweet, not lasting, The perfume and suppliance of a minute."

Hamlet, Act i. sc. 3.

† " He plies the Duke, at morning and at night, And doth impeach the freedom of the state, If they deny him justice."— Merchant of Venice. ‡ " With all appliances and means to boot."

Henry VI. Part 2. "... Diseases desperate grown,

By desperate appliance are reliev'd."— Ibid.


LECTURE IV.



tus, and the meaning is strengthened by the prefix com, making it folded together. To " comply" is to bend together, to agree with another; and an " accomplice" is one who is joined to another in any work, with the prefix ac for ad. " Compli­ment1' means a kind " compliance" with the will of another. It may be doubted whether the word " double" comes from this root; but cer­tainly " duplicate" does, as also " duplicity;" the one meaning a double folding, or a copy, of any thing, and the latter implying double dealing. On the other hand, that which is openly unfolded to view is said to be " displayed." " Explicit" also conveys the idea of openness and candour; the word meaning a folding out; and " explicable" that which may be unravelled, not so much in use as its opposite, " inexplicable." To " imply" is to intertwine, to involve or include; and when one is said to have " implicit" faith in another, it means that it is wrapped up in him, that is, wholly given to him. While the negative of " applica­ble" is formed by the Latin preposition in, that of " apply" and " application" is formed by the English prefix mis; this being one of many simi­lar instances of the caprice with which English words are formed in composition. The words " simple" and " simplicity" may be traced to this root; compounded with sine signifying without; that is, without fold, or guile. " To " reply" is to return an answer, derived through the French.



LECTURE IV.


A " suppliant" (whence " supplicate" and " sup­plication") denotes one who prays under or at another's feet, with clasped hands. The words " multiply," " quadruple," " quintuple," " treble," and "triple," belong, as well as " duplicate" already referred to, to the class of words com­pounded of nouns and adjectives with Latin verbs.

Ploro, to wail or weep, and plorĀtus, deplored, supply some words of mournful sound and sense; such as " deplore," and " deplorable;" also " ex­plore," to search anxiously; and " implore," to beg earnestly; in both cases, properly, with tears. Countries " unexplored" are such as no traveller has thus anxiously and earnestly sought out.

From pono, to place, posĬtus, placed, we have many words in English. The situation in which any person or thing is placed is the " position" thereof; and similar is the derivation of " pos­ture." The term " positive" is opposed to nega­tive; and means that can or may be laid down; and metaphorically it is applied to any thing determined and settled. A " positive" person is one who is fond of laying down notions with con­fidence; and " positiveness" means stubbornness in opinion. The word " post" is used with various applications; but always with the same original derivation and meaning. The "post" of a gate is that which is fixed in the ground for it to hang upon; the fixed or settled place of honour or duty is a man's " post;" and a military " post" is a fixed


LECTURE IV. 125

place or station for the soldiery. Our letters, carried by a fixed or settled mode of conveyance from place to place, are said to be carried by " post;" and the "post-office" is the place fixed for their reception and delivery. The " postage" of letters is the charge made for conveying them through the " post." " Post" horses are those kept at fixed places for hire; and ridden by " post-boys," called also " postillions" from the French. To " post" is to travel with " post" horses; and the term post-haste is applied to describe anything done with speed. To " post" bills is to set them in their place; and to " post" up books means to put accounts in their proper order. To " postpone" is to put off, the preposition post signi­fying after or behind. That which is placed near to, or over against another, in the sense of corres­ponding to it, is said to be " apposite," compounded with the prefix ap for ad; but, on the other hand, if placed against it, we call it "opposite," from 06, against. The words " compose," " component," and " compound," all imply a placing together, or in union with each other.† Hence a " composition" in music, or in writing, is that which is put together in order; and a " compositor," a term well known in the printing office, is one who puts together the type in an orderly manner, " Composure"

* See Richardson's Dictionary, in verb. † " Let me compound this strife."— Henry VI. Part 2, Act ii.



LECTURE IV.


is a word of similar derivation, indicating an orderly and settled state of mind and temper. " Compost" is a term applied to a heap of earth and other matter mingled together. In architec-ture, the " composite" order is one formed of an union of parts of the several original Grecian orders. " Decompose" is the opposite to " com-pose;" and the " decomposition" of any substance is the separation or disorder of the " component" parts from one another. This word, as well as " decompound," was formerly applied to the com-posing of things already compounded;* and that which is now the more general application of the term, namely, to resolve a compound into simple parts, is described by Johnson, as " a sense that has of late crept irregularly into chymical books." To "depose" is to put down; as, when a king's crown is put down from his head, it is his " depo-sition." A person swearing informations is called a " deponent," because he lays down facts; and the word " depose" is applied to his giving such statements. The same verb was formerly employed to describe a laying down of anything, as a pledge, or for security; " deposit" is now used both for the verb and noun. A " depository" is a place in which articles are "deposited," also called a " repository;" and a " depositary" is the person

* Thus the term was used to mean recompounded. " When a word stands for a verycomplex idea, that is, compounded and decompounded it is not easy for men to form and retain that idea exactly."— Locke.


LECTURE IV. 127

whom any thing is lodged in trust. A i depot," derived through the French, is a place where goods are kept in safety; and is applied chiefly in a military sense, both to the place and to the soldiers in charge of it. To " dispose" of any thing is to put it in a separate or particular)lace, the prefix dis signifying separation; and thus it has come to mean to arrange in due order; and it is also applied to selling anything, when it is always followed by the preposition of. The " disposition" means the method or tendency of mind. To " expose" is to put or place out, namely, to view or examination; and to " expound" is, by general usage, to lay open the meaning. " Expo­sition" and " exposure" are of the same origin, but applied differently; the first, to an opening out of any subject: and the other to the disclosure of circumstances or character, in a bad sense. To " impose" is to put on; and is applied to the put-ting on of a tax, hence called an " impost." It is also applied in the sense of putting upon, as a falsehood or cheat; whence we have " impostor," " imposture," and an " imposition." This latter word is, however, also applied in a literal sense to signify a laying on of hands, as in the case of conferring holy orders. " Indisposition" is the op­posite to being disposed favourably towards; and the word is also applied to bodily illness, as "indis-posing" a person to any work. To " interpose" is to place between, and " interposition" is a placing



LECTURE IV.


" opposer"

or going between. To " oppose," an and " opposition" indicate a being placed over against To " precompose," like " predispose," is to compose or dispose before-hand, the latter implying want of calm judgment. A " preposi­tion" is placed before a noun. To " presuppose" is to imagine before-hand. To " propound" is to place before, to put forth, and is applied to putting questions.* That which is " propounded" or offered for consideration is called a " proposi­tion," a subject placed before us. To offer one's hand is a " proposal" to marry. " Purpose" is of similar derivation, signifying that which we set before ourselves as an object to be attained. To " repose" is to place back, to lay up; and is applied to a state of rest or security; and hence the phrase to " repose confidence" in another. To " suppose" is literally to place under, and is applied to that which is done secretly, or underhand. A " sus­picion" is that which is set down doubtfully, without sufficent proof. To " transpose" is to move across from one place to another; and " transposition" means a change of place.

* " A spirit rais'd from depth of under-ground, That shall make answer to such questions, As by your grace shall be propounded him."— Shakspeare.


LECTURE V.


WORDS FORMED FROM LATIN VERBS.


Дата добавления: 2015-07-19; просмотров: 41 | Нарушение авторских прав


<== предыдущая страница | следующая страница ==>
Richard II Act v. sc 3.| CONTINUED.

mybiblioteka.su - 2015-2024 год. (0.099 сек.)