Concluded.

We have a few words derived from the Latin verb tremo, to tremble; as "tremor," which is simply a Latin substantive adopted into English: withthe subderivatives, " tremulous," " tremulous-ness," and "tremendous,"or causing awe and trem­bling; also the verb to " tremble," signifying to shake as with fear or cold.

Tribuo, to give, or contribute, supplies the root of" tribute" and " tributary." The meaning of the formeris plain; the latter is sometimes applied in thesense of " contributing," as rivulets bringing water to alarger river are " tributary" streams. A " contribution" is that which is given to supply apart of a sum; and the " contributors" arethose who give together the full amount, by " contributary" donations. To " distribute" is to divide; and a " distribution" means a scattering

LECTURE VII.

asunder that which had been contributed, or given together. To " attribute" is to give to; and the " attributes" mean those things which are attributed or appropriated to another, as perfec­tion to the Supreme Being.* " Retribution" is a giving back again; and is applied both to reward and punishment.

From trudo, to thrust, and trusus, thrust or pushed, we have "abstruse," describing that which is thrust away from one's view, so as to require keenness of mind to discover it. To " intrude" is to thrust oneself in, uninvited; and he that does so is " intrusive;" and the action itself is an " intrusion." To " obtrude" is to thrust forward against or in the way of, which is an " obtrusion;" and the term " unobtrusive" is applied to denote meek, humble, and retiring manners. A " protru­sion" is a thrusting forth, or forward, and is gene­rally applied to things rather than to persons.

Tueor, is to see or watch over; and from it, and its participle tutus, guarded, we have "tutor," and "tuition," implying watchfulness; and " tutelage," the state of being under guar­dianship. An " untutored " savage is one that has never been under teaching or discipline. " Intuition" implies seeing into; and is used to describe mental vision; and " intuitive" means

* " All the perfections of God are called his attributes; for He can­not be without them."— Watts's Logic.

LECTURE VII.

seen by the, mind immediately, and without the intervention of argument or testimony.*

From tumeo, to swell, we have " tumid " and " tumor," implying a swelling. A " tumulus" is a mound of earth raised or swelling up. A " tumult" means a swelling or rising up of the people, when they are said to be " tumultuous." " Contumely" is contemptuousness, reproach.† " Contumacious" means stubborn, swelling up against authority. " Tumefaction," compounded of the verbs tumeo and facio, to cause to swell, denotes a swelling.

Unguo, to anoint, (unctus, anointed) gives us " unction," and " unctuous," applied literally to signify anointing; and metaphorically to describe an oily or melting style, referring usually to that which melts to devotion. The term is also applied to any thing lenitive, like a soothing " ointment" to a wound.‡

Utor, to use, (usus, used) gives us " use," both as a substantive and a verb; as also " usage," "usual," and "unusual;" likewise "useful," a

• " The truth of these propositions we know by a bare simple intuition of the ideas; and such propositions are called self-evident."

Locke.

" Immediate perception of the agreement or disagreement of two ideas.... is called intuitive knowledge."— Ibid.

† " Th' oppressor's wrong, the proud man's contumely, The pangs of despis'd love; the law's delay."— Hamlet.

‡ " Lay not that flattering unction to your soul,

That not your trespass, bat my madness speaks."

Hamlet. Act iii. sc. 4.

LECTURE VII.

word formed with the English affix ful, as is " useless" with the Saxon affix less. " Usury," always applied in a bad sense, originally meant payment for the use of money; which is now allowed to produce its own marketable value, like any other commodity for sale or hire. To " usurp'' is to seize the use or possession of that which is the property of another; and " usurpation" is the act of an " usurper," who gets into the possession of that to which another has a right. " Utility" means usefulness, and " utensil" is the name given to any useful article. " Utilitarian" is a modern word, now much in vogue, at a time when the "useful" is justly preferred to the merely ornamental. To " abuse" any thing is to turn it from its proper use;* and the term is also applied to using " abusive" language.† To " dis­use" is to put out of use; hence " desuetude," describing what is gone out of use; and to " mis­use" is to apply to a wrong use, formed with the English or Saxon prefix mis, for not or wrong. To " peruse" is to use thoroughly, and the " peru­sal "of a book denotes reading it through, that being the proper use of it.

Vaco, to be empty, or to be at leisure, gives us what pupils and teachers have no objection to—"vacation;" also "vacant," "vacate;" and

* " They that use this world, as not abusing it."—1 Cor. vii. 31. † " But he mocked them, and laughed at them, and abused them

shamefully, and spake proudly."—1 Macc. vii. 34.

LECTURE VII. 197

"vacancy," meaning empty space.* A "vacuum" means a space unoccupied by matter; and a " vacuist" is a philosopher that holds a vacuum, opposed to a plenist, who believes all space to be filled with subtle matter, although a real " vacuum" certainly appears to be caused by the air-pump. " Vacuity" is the same as vacancy; and from the same root we have " evacuate," to empty out of.

Vado, to go, with its participle vasus, gone, gives us " Vade-mecum," which means Go with me; a title given to any small pocket-book. To " evade" is to go out of; and " evasion" signifies avoiding any thing by " evasive," that is, cunning, means. To "invade" is to go into; and "inva­sion" is applied to the incursions of an army going into a country with hostile intent; the leader of which is called an "invader." To " pervade," is to go through, or thoroughly, so as to be found mixed up inseparably with any thing; the word is also applied to passing through the whole extension.†

Valeo, to be well or strong, gives us " valedic­tion" and " valedictory," meaning bidding to fare

• "............................................ How is 't,

That thus you bend your eyes on vacancy, And with the incorporal air do hold discourse"?

Hamlet. Act iii. sc. 4.

† ".......................................... What but God,

Pervades, adjusts, and agitates the whole"?

Thomson's Seasons.

LECTURE VII.

well, compounded of valeo and dico. The pathetic English word farewell is the literal translation of "valediction," meaning go well on your way* A " valetudinarian" is one who takes great care of his health, to keep himself well. "Valiant" means strong, including mental and corporal vigour. A " valid" argument is that which carries weight or strength with it, upon which its " validity" depends. " Valour" also implies strength of mind and body, and the man possessing both is " valorous," as are also his performances."† " Value" is the name given to that which is of worth: to what is " valuable" or precious, that is, worth a price. "Invaluable," though formed with the negative prefix in, so far from denying the value of any thing, intensifies the term, implying that the value of it cannot be estimated, in other words, is beyond price; of similar meaning with inestimable, and formed in like manner. The opposite is formed by the English or Saxon affix less, making " valueless." A "valuator" is one who makes a "valuation" of any thing, that is, calculates its worth. To "avail" oneself of any thing is to take the strength or good of it to oneself; and that which may be so obtained is " available." " Convales-

* See English Roots, pp. 28, 49. Third Edition. † " List to the valorous deeds that were done,

By Harold the Dauntless, Count Witikind's son!"— Scott.

LECTURE VII. 199

cense" means a growing healthy, and when a patient is regaining health he is a " convalescent." To "countervail" is to act against with equal power;* and is of similar meaning with " equiva­lent," which signifies of equal value or force. An "invalid" is one who is without health; and to " invalidate" is to weaken or deprive of all force and efficacy. To " prevail" is to exceed in strength, being strong before others. The " pre­valence" of a report or of an opinion denotes that it gains strength. " Prevalent" also meant pre­vailing in force, or victorious.† The negatives of " availing" and " available" are formed by the English prefix un.

From veho, to carry, vectus, carried, we have " vehement" and " vehemence," implying being carried away, applied both literally and metapho­rically. A " vehicle" is a carriage, or that by which any thing is conveyed. The derivation of the term applied to the science of the physiology of horses, " veterinary," is not very plain, but there is no doubt that the word may be traced to this root; veterinum, the Latin for a beast of burden, being itself derived from veho, to carry. To " convey" means to carry; and a " convoy"

• " Who, soon prepar'd to field, his sword forth drew,

And him with equal valour countervail' d"

Spencer's Fairy Queen.
† ".......................................... On the foughten field,

Michael and his angels prevalent encamping."— Milton.

LECTURE VII.

is one sent in a "conveyance" or carriage, for protection; it is also applied to a ship of war so guarding other vessels conveying troops or mer­chandize. A " conveyancer," in legal phrase, is one who draws up " conveyances," that is, instru­ments or deeds by which property is transferred.* This word was formerly used in the sense of secret management or trick, and the substitution of one thing for another.† To " reconvey" is to carry back. To " inveigh" means literally to carry against, and is applied to assailing with oppro­brious language; and such style of speech is called "invective."

From the frequentative of veho, vexo, to toss agitate, we have " vex" and " vexatious,"

or

meaning tossed about. A subject of much dis­cussion is with this signification called a vexed question; and the term is also applied to the sea agitated with the winds, or by the oars of a boat.‡ " Convex" means carried up, as the outbowed side of a vessel is above the concave or inside,

* "The very conveyancer of his lands will hardly lie in this box; and must the inheritor himself have no more"?— Hamlet, Act v. sc 1. † " Can they not juggle, and with slight Conveyance play with wrong and right? "

Butler's Hudibras.

‡ " Alack 'tis he; why he was met e'en now, As mad as the vext sea, singing aloud."

Shakspeare: Lear. Act iv. sc. 4. " Rang'd on the banks, beneath our equal oars, White curl the waves, and the vex'd ocean roars."— Pope.

LECTURE VII.

Velo, to conceal, gives us "veil" or "vail," that which is used to hide any thing from view; and " reveal," which means to turn back the veil or covering, and thus to " unveil," or make a " revelation" of what had been hidden.

From vendo, to sell, we have " vendor" one who "vends" or sells goods, which are "vendible," or saleable. Hence also we have " venal" applied in a bad sense, implying " venality," or being unduly influenced by money.

From venio to come, and its participle ventus, come, or arrived, we have many English words. To give " vent" to any thing is to allow it a passage through which to come. A " venture" means that which is to come, and the term is applied to any speculation as to events that are " future," which word also may be traced to venturus, the future participle of the verb venio, to come. " Venturesome" is compounded with the English affix signifying partaking of, or in some degree; and denotes being given to specu­late as to future results. " Advent" means coming to; and " adventitious" is coming to, applied to that which is accidental, that is, not essentially inherent. An " adventure" also means a coming to, with a prospective refer­ence. Its original meaning was any thing that is about to come; it is now applied to any thing either coming, or that has come to pass. The term " adventurer" still retains the more proper mean-

LECTURE VII.

ing, as descriptive of an " adventurous" person who is looking to a future result. An " avenue" is the road coming to, or the approach to a house, and generally suggests the idea of trees, as such approaches were formerly between rows of stately timber. The word has come to us through the French, as its termination indicates. To " cir­cumvent" is to come about; and " circumvention" implies a coming round one in a deceitful manner. To " contravene," of French origin, is to come against. To " convene" is to cause to come together; and a "convention" means a meeting together of the representatives of two or more nations or parties, for a settlement of affairs. "Convenient" and " conveniency" imply a coming together of circumstances, in an agreeable manner; the opposite is denoted by the negative prefix in, and formerly by the English prefix un, with a similar signification. A " convent" is a place where persons come together, for seclusion. The word was formerly used as a verb.* A " con­venticle" originally meant any meeting together;† but has come to be applied to meetings for religious worship, which in less enlightened times than the

* " When that is known, and golden time convents, A solemn combination shall be made Of our dear souls."— Twelfth Night. Act v.

†" Aye, all of you had laid your heads together, Myself had notice of your conventicles."

Henry VI. P. 2, Act iii

LECTURE VII.

present were proscribed by law. The term " covenanters" also recalls times of persecution, when the Scotch entered into a solemn league and covenant, on the subject of religion. A " covenant" is a compact, or agreement; and the conditions in a deed are called " covenants," as expressing what has been agreed upon by the executing parties, who have come together. " Conventional" means stipulated or agreed upon; and the term is used to denote the forms by which imaginary animals, and allegorical allusions or historical facts, are represented by artists, as if by compact, although in fact only tacitly under­stood and agreed upon. An " event" is that which comes out of circumstances; it signifies the end of the means used, and the result in which they "eventuate." To "intervene" and "interven­tion" refer to that which comes between. An " invention" is any thing found out, or that has come into the mind of a person, thence called an " inventor" and designated " inventive." An " inventory" is an account of all things found in a house or other place. A " misadventure" is an unlucky adventure, being formed capriciously by the English prefix mis, for not or wrong. " Peradventure" means by or through accident or chance, the plain English being mayhap, although the hybrid word perhaps is more common.* To prevent" is to go before; and as this may be

• See English Roots, page 170. Third Edition.

LECTURE VII.

done with a view either to stop one's progress, or to lead one on, the word is to be found used in both senses; but now it is usually restricted to the former meaning, being applied to a hind­rance, as the words " preventive" and " preven­tion" are now employed to denote.* " Revenue," which comes to us through the French, means that which comes back to us—the return of gain or profit. To " supervene" is to come over or above, that is, to come in addition to; and " supervention" is the act of supervening.

Vergo, to tend towards, to verge, gives us a few words, as " converge" to verge together; and " diverge", to verge asunder; with their subde-rivatives, " convergence" and " convergent," " divergence" and " divergent."

From VERTO, to turn, and its participle versus, turned, we have many English words. " Versa­tile" and " versatility" imply a turning about. " Verse" is a term now generally applied to poetry, except where it is used to designate a portion of a chapter in Scripture. The word was originally derived from the lines formed by the stylus, corresponding to our pen, turning up the wax. A " version" is the turning of one language into

• An example of the use of the word prevent, as going before in the sense of assisting, may be found in the Collect for Easter-day, and in the 4th Collect after the Oftertory, in the Book of Common Prayer. The word may also be found used in the sense of coming before, without implying either aid or hindrance—Psalm cxix. 14.8.

LECTURE VII.

another. To be " versed " in any thing means to turn about, to become experienced or skilled in it. The " vertebras" are the joints in the back bone, whereby the animal is enabled to turn. " Vertical" means turning, and the term is applied to the point in the zenith, around which the heavens are said to turn. " Vertigo" means a turning in the head, a giddiness. To " advert" is to turn to; and " adverse" means turned against. An " adversary" is one who opposes; and " ad­versity" means a turn of affairs against one. To "advertize" is to turn attention towards; and to " animadvert" means to turn the mind to, being compounded with the substantive animus, the mind. " Anniversary" is also compounded with a substantive, annus, a year; and signifies the, turning of the year. To " avert" is to turn away from; and " aversion" implies a turning away in displeasure. To " controvert" is to turn against, and " controversy " means such a turning against another's opinions. To " convert" is to turn toge­ther, or towards another. " Conversion" is a change, commonly used in a religious sense. " Con­vertible" terms are such as are so much alike that one may be used for the other. " Conversation" is a word now usually restricted to discourse; but it was formerly applied in a much wider sense, to signifythe manner of life;* as the term " conver-

* "Our conversation is in heaven."— Phil. iii. 20.

" Let your conversation bo such as becometh the Gospel." Phil. i. 2 7.

LECTURE VII.

sant" is still used, to imply a constant habit—being well acquainted with. To " converse " is to hold intercourse with another. To " divert" is to turn away from; and amusements are called " diver­sions," and are said to be diverting, as turning away the mind for a time from study or business, for the sake of recreation. To " diversify" is to cause to be different, being compounded of dis and versus, with fio, to make. " Diversity " means difference or variety—a turning in different directions, as implied by the prefix di for dis. " Inadvertent" and " inadvertency" imply a want of " adverting," or turning the thoughts to the subject in hand. To " invert" is to turn inwards and from its proper course; " inversion" means a turning upside down; and " inverse" is opposed to direct. To " observe" is to turn against, or before one's eyes. The " obverse" of a coin or medal is the opposite side turned to view. " Ob-versant" is used by Bacon, as equivalent to conversant; meaning familiar with, as being frequently before us. To " pervert" is to turn thoroughly, and is, like the substantive " perver­sion," always applied in a bad sense, to indicate a turning altogether from a right course. " Per­verse" means obstinately wrong— cross-grained; and " perversity" means " perverseness" or " cross­ness." To " revert" is to turn again; the " reverse" is the opposite, that which has been turned again; and " reversion," as of property, is the returning of it, after a certain time, to the person who until

LECTURE VII.

that period arrives is said to have a " reversion­ary" interest therein. To " subvert" is to turn from under; and hence "subversion" means overturning. " Tergiversation" means turning the back, compounded with the substantive tergum, the back, and is applied to a change or abandonment of principle. To " transverse" is to turn over or across; and a " traverse," in a court of law, means an opposition to a motion; as when a grand jury presentment is " traversed" it means that it is crossed by an objection. The term " travesty," applied to a burlesque, when any thing is so turned or twisted as to make it ridicu­lous, comes to us through the French. The " universe" means the entire mundane system; and an " university," originally denoting any incor­poration, is now applied to a large seminary of learning. These terms, as also the words " uni­versal" and "universality," imply an union of all, comprehending the whole, the derivation being from the participle of this verb versus, compounded with unus, signifying one; denoting a turning of the whole round one common centre. To " di­vorce" is to turn in different directions; and a " divorce" is a separation of those who had been united. A " vortex" is a whirlpool, or any thing turned round with violence, derived from verto or vorto, to turn.

Video, to see, and its participle visus, seen, s upply the root of many English words. When

LECTURE VII.

we meet with the term " vide," it is simply the imperative mood, second person singular, See thou. The " visage" is that which may be seen, the aspect. The " visage" or " visor," also with z, is the opening of the helmet, through which the wearer sees, also that which covers the visage or countenance. "Visible" and "visibility," mean that may be seen, as the opposite terms, formed by the negative prefix in, signify what cannot be seen. A " vision" is that which is seen; and is often applied to a spectre, or phantasm, as " visionary" means fantastical or imaginary. To " visit" is to go to see, from visito, a frequenta­tive of video; and the person who pays the " visit" is a " visitor," more properly spelt " visiter," who is also called the " visitant." The verb to " visit,"* is often used in the sense of punishing; as implying an earnest looking on the criminal, and an attentive consideration of his crime; but although commonly so applied, it originally meant regarding with pleasure or dis­pleasure, either feeling being denoted by opening the eyes and turning them upon the object of regard or attention. A " visitation" denotes a formal inspection by one invested with " visito-rial," or more properly " visitatorial," powers. " Visual," a word that has come to us through

• " I will visit their offences with the rod."— Ps. lxxxix. 32. " Visiting the iniquities of the fathers upon the children."

Exod. xx. 5.

LECTURE VII.

the French, means used in sight, instrumental to sight, as the visual nerve. To " advise" is to admonish, to give " advice," which means a look­ing to; and the word is also used in the sense of informing by letter, and thu3 putting the intelli­gence before your correspondent's sight. " Evi­dent" and " evidence" imply a clear seeing, or making a matter manifestly to appear. " Envy," " envious," and " invidious" denote a looking upon another; and are applied in a bad sense to mean a looking with an evil eye, and with dis­pleasure at the merit and prosperity of another. To "provide" is to look forth; and a "provident" person is one who looks before him; the opposite being formed by the negative prefix im. " Pro­vision" means that which is prepared by the " provider," who has been on the look out, to secure what is required. " Provender" is the term applied to what is provided for cattle; and the person who looks after this is called a " providore," from the French. A "provisional," or rather a " provisionary," government means such as is appointed for present need, indicating that it is only temporary. A " proviso" means a stipula­tion orcondition, implying that certain things will be done, provided that others are.* The watchful

• ".... He doth deny his prisoners; But with this proviso and exception, That we, at our own charge, shall ransom strait His brother-in-law."— Henry IV. Part 1, Act i.

LECTURE VII.

care of His creatures by the Almighty is called "providential;" and the term "providence" is used to denote the divine superintendence.* " Prevision" is an obsolete word found in old authors, and signifying foresight. "Prudent," con­tracted from provident, means foreseeing; the opposite of which is formed by the prefix im for in, as a negative. A " purveyor" is one who " purveys," a word borrowed from the French, and of similar signification with provide. To " revise" is to look over again, and a " revision" is the act of so doing. The word is also used as a noun, and so applied by printers to a second proof of a sheet corrected. To " revisit" is to visit again; and to " supervise" is to look over. A " supervisor" is an officer whose duty it is to overlook or inspect. Of similar derivation, but of different application, is a " surveyor," a word commonly used to denote one who looks over ground, with a view to its measurement. This word has come to us through the French, in which language sur is put for the Latin super. While " provident" is negatived by the prefix im, " pro­vided" has for its opposite " unprovided," and " visit" has " unvisited." A " vista" is a sight or prospect through trees. A " vis-a-vis" is French, and means a carriage in which the passengers sit

* " The world was all before them, where to choose Their place of rest, and Providence their guide."

Milton's Paradise Lost.

LECTURE VII.

face to face. " Videlicet," written viz. is the Latin for You may see; and signifies, to wit, that is, to cause you to see or know. A " vedette," which like other military terms comes through the French, means a sentinel on horseback, one sent forward to take a view.

Vinco to conquer (VICTUS, conquered), gives us " vincible" and " invincible," that may and that may not be conquered. A " victim" is one conquered and in the power of another; supposed to have been so called because slain with the hand (manus) after a victory. A " victor" is a conqueror, and " victory" the conquest gained; of which the adjective is " victorious." The name of our gracious Queen is the Latin for victory. To " vanquish," meaning to subdue, comes from this root, but through the French, vaincre. To " convince" is to subdue or over­power in argument; and to " convict" upon a trial is to prove a man guilty of the thing charged, whereupon he is called a " convict." The word "conviction" is also applied metaphorically to denote a strong and overpowering feeling on the mind, whereby it is forced to yield as to a con­queror. The term is found in Shakspeare in the sense, now obsolete, of overpowering, literally*

* " When Duncan is asleep, his two chamberlains Will I with wine and wassel so convince, That memory, the warder of the brain, Shall be a fume."— Macbeth Act i. sc. 7.

LECTURE VII.

To " evince" is to conquer, and hence metaphori­cally, to overthrow in argument. To " evict" is to adjudge to be forfeited; and hence an "evic­tion" means a putting out of possession, after the party has been overcome in a legal proceeding. " Province" is a word which we have from the ancient Romans; and was used originally to desig­nate a far off country that had been subdued to their dominion, the prefix pro being put for procul, signifying far off. It has long come to be applied to any region or district of a country.

VindĬco, to revenge, gives us " vengeance," " vindictive," and " vindictiveness;" all used in a bad sense. Also " vindicate," " vindication," and a "vindicator," implying the redress of wrongs, and hence the assertion of innocence. To " avenge" is to take " vengeance," or retribution of wrong, against another, and he that executes such is an " avenger." " Revenge" is punishment by way of retaliation for injury received; and a " revengeful" is a very unchristian temper. Vindico itself may be traced to the two Latin words, vim and dico, meaning to denounce force or violence against another.

Vivo, to live, (victus, lived) forms the root of more words than the preceding verbs. Hence come " vivacious'' and " vivacity," meaning lively or full of life; the former word being also used to describe tenacity of life. " Viva-voce" is the Latin for with a living voice, and the term is used

LECTURE VII.

to distinguish oral from written examination. A " vivary" is a place for keeping live animals. " Vivid" and " vividness" denote what is lively, or quick, as flashes of lightning are said to be; and striking, as bright colours are described. To " vivify" is to make alive, being compounded of vivo and fio. Animals that bring forth their young alive are called " viviparous," as dis­tinguished from oviparous, produced from an egg. " Viands" and " victuals" are the meats that sustain life; both words applied to cooked food, and coming to us through the French, as culinary words commonly do. " Vital" means necessary to life; and a " vital" part is such as is the seat of life. The " vitals," of which there is no singular, are parts of the body essential to life. " Vitality" is the power of subsisting in life. " Convivial" and " conviviality" indicate a living together, as implied by the prefix con mean­ing in company with. To " revive" is to live again; and a " revival" signifies a recovery or renovating of life. To " survive" is to live over, thatis, beyond; the Saxon or English corre­sponding term being to outlive. This word, like allin which the prefix sur for super occurs, comesthrough the French. Hence we have also " survivor ," " survivorship," and " survival;" all denotingliving beyond a certain time, person, or event.

Voco to call, and vocĀtus, called, supply the

LECTURE VII.

roots of several words in common use. " Vocal" music is that of the voice, as distinguished from what is instrumental; and a " vocalist" is a singer; the word " voice" being the English of the Latin noun vox, itself derived from voco. A man's "vocation" is his calling; that to which he is called. The " vocative," in grammar, is the case of calling. To " vociferate" is to shout, to call out; being compounded of vox, (vocis,) the voice, and fero, to carry. " Vociferation" is the act of thus carrying out the voice in a " vociferous" man­ner. " Advocacy" is the duty of an " advocate," or one called to, that he may come to one's aid. " Avocation" means a calling away from; and is applied to the business that calls one away from other pursuits. A " convocation" is a body of per­sons " convoked," or called together. To "equivo­cate" is to speak with a double meaning—intend­ing to deceive; and "equivocation" implies the use of words with equal, and therefore ambi­guous or •" equivocal" meaning; that may be applied equally to one thing or the other.* To " evoke" is to call out from; to "invocate" is to call to, or upon; to " provoke" is to call forth; and to " revoke" is to call back. From the same root,

* '' These sentences, to sugar or to gall,

Being strong on both sides, are equivocal."

Othello. Act i. sc. 3. " I pull in resolution and begin To doubt the equivocation of the fiend, That lies like truth."— Macbeth. Act v. sc. 5.

LECTURE VII.

and of similar signification, respectively, are "invocation," "provocation," and "revocation." " Irrevocable" means that cannot be recalled; applicable to a promise or a solemn declaration.* A "vocabulary" is a small dictionary or cata­logue of " vocables," or words. To " avouch" or "vouch" is to give one's word; and a " voucher" is a warrant or pledge of abiding by one's word. To " vouchsafe" is to vouch safely, that is, to permit anything without danger; the word is generally used in the sense of condescending to grant. A " vowel" is a letter that may be sounded by itself; while a consonant can be sounded only when accompanied by another letter.

Volvo, to roll, and its past participle volutus, rolled, give us " voluble" and " volubility," im­plying facility of folding or rolling up. These terms are applied to a rapid utterance of words; formerly in a good sense, like fluent and fluency. A "volume" is so called, because books were originally written on rolls folded up. " Volu­minous" is used to describe what is bulky or dif­fusive; as it were occupying many volumes. In architecture, a "volute" is that part of the capital of a Grecian column which is turned in spiral lines, as specially remarkable in the Ionic order. " Circumvolution" means a turning round about.

* "Had I but said, I would have kept my word, But when I swear, it is irrevocable."

Henry VI. Part 2, Act iii. sc. 2.

LECTURE VII.

To "convolve"is to roll together; and a well-known flower which rolls up at night is hence called the " convolvolus." To " devolve" means to roll down; and the word is applied to denote that which falls in succession to new hands. To " evolve" is to roll out from, that is, to disentan­gle: as " involve" signifies to roll in, to entangle or complicate. In algebra, the term " evolution" means the extracting of roots from any given power; being the reverse of " involution." " Evo­lutions," in military tactics, are the doubling of ranks or files, wheeling about and counter­marching. To " revolve" is to turn round, as the earth about the sun. To " revolt" is to turn about, or against; and a " revolution" is a change of affairs caused by such turning of the people against those in power. When such a " revolt" is unsuccessful it is called an unnatural rebellion, when successful it is a glorious revolu­tion. " Revolt" is to be found in Shakspeare, in the sense of returning to one's duty or allegiance, the opposite to its present signification.*

Voro, to devour, gives us " voracity," " vora­cious," and "voraciousness;" all implying a greedy and devouring propensity. Hence also we have to " devour," meaning to eat ravenously

• " The king is merciful, if yon revolt;

But angry, wrathful, and inclined to blood, If you go forward; therefore, yield or die."

Henry VI. Part 2, Act iv.

LECTURE VII.

and like a beast. From this root we have such words as " carnivorous," eating flesh; " gramini-vorous," eating grass; " granivorous," eating grain; " herbivorous," eating herbs; and "omni­vorous," devouring every thing. These are com­pounded respectively of the substantives caro, flesh; gramen, grass; granum, grain; herba, an herb; and the adjective omnis, all; with the verb voro, to eat or devour, in every instance.

From voveo, to vow, and its participle votus, vowed, we have some English words, of obvious meaning, derived. Of these is " vow," both as a verb and a substantive; a word that comes to us through the French, and usually refers to a promise made to a divine power, or to matrimo­nial promises.* A " votary" means one who is, as it were, " devoted," that is, dedicated by vows, to a particular course or object. A " vote" is a voice in favour of, or devoted to, a particular candidate; and he who gives the vote is desig­nated a " voter." " Votive" means given by vow. To " avow," coming through the French, is to declare with confidence, and without dissimula­tion; and an " avowal" is an open declaration. To " devote" means to dedicate, or appropriate by a vow or solemn promise; and " devotion" is the act of being consecrated; also applied in the

• " By all the vows that ever men have broke,

In number more than ever woman spoke."— Shakspeare.

218 LECTURE VII.

sense of " devoutness," or piety, and to the acts of religion. " Devotedness" to any pursuit denotes a giving up of one's self to it. " Devout" means pious; and religious services are hence called " devotional." A " devotee" means one who is superstitiously religious; the term being, like most of the words from this root, borrowed from the French.

With this verb, I conclude this part of the subject under consideration; having traced a great number of words adopted into the English language, from nearly two hundred Latin verbs. I have confined myself, for the most part, to words derived from Latin verbs either simply, or with a prefix taken from a Latin pre­position, with a few compounded of verbs and substantives. I have by no means exhausted this

part of the subject; but have contented myself

with the exotics in our composite English lan­guage, derived from Latin verbs, that are most generally known and in common use.

I commenced these Lectures, by repeating what I had stated in a former course, to the

effect that, while we should adhere as much as

possible to the purely Saxon style, and must give a preference to words formed from English Roots, we are not to depreciate the Exotics or words transplanted into our language from foreign tongues. To this observation I may add the fact,

LECTURE VII.

that it is not possible wholly to discard words of foreign derivation; in proof of which it may be observed, that an advocate for the exclusive use of words of Anglo-Saxon origin, will find himself compelled to employ words of Latin derivation, even in his denunciation of such words and his advocacy for purer English. Our language is composite; and we cannot therefore fully under­stand it, or properly employ it, if we reject any one of the elements of which it has been formed. The importance of the Exotic roots, to some of which I have been directing your attention in these Lectures, may be seen (as has been observed by a writer on the subject at the present day) from the fact that " from pono and positum, we have in English two hundred and fifty words; from plico, two hundred; from fero and latum, one hundred and ninety-eight; from specio, one hundred and seventy-seven; from mitto and missum, one hundred and seventy-four; from teneo and tentum, one hundred and sixty-eight; from capio and captum, one hundred and ninety-seven; from tendo and tensum, one hundred and sixty-two; from duco and ducturn, one hundred and fifty-six."* These nine verbs, therefore, to which I have, amongst many others in the Latin language, called your attention, enter into the composition of about 1,700 English words.

• Hand-book of the English Tongue: By S. Angus, 1862.

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