Henry VIII. Act ii. sc. 4.

LECTURE VIII.

the form of things, as relating to each other, expressed by con. To " deform" is to take from the form, like deface and disfigure; and this causes " deformity." To " inform" is to impress upon the mind the form or idea of what is meant to be communicated; and that which is thus imparted is " information;" and if it be impro­perly done, so as to mislead, it is to " misinform" and to convey " misinformation." In the word " informal" the prefix in is used as a negative, meaning not according to a prescribed form; and the effect produced is " informality." To " per­form" is to bring a form to its perfect state, to complete or fully to accomplish any thing; and a. " performer" is one who undertakes such a " performance." To " reform" is to form anew or again. A true " reformer" will aim not at destruction but at " reformation." To " trans­form" is to change the form; and a " transfor­mation" of character is a change in the fashion of one's life, usually understood in a good sense as a change for the better.* " Uniform" and " uniformity" imply conformity, oneness or like­ness of form; and hence the dress of soldiers being of one form and fashion is called their " uniform."

Fortis, strong or valiant, gives " fort," " for-

* " Be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind."

Rom. xii. 2.

LECTURE VIII.

ify," and "fortification"; the two latter com­pounded with fio and facio, signifying made strong. Of like meaning is a " fortress" from the French; and similarly derived is " forte," a term used to denote the strongest part of a man's cha­racter or talent. " Fortitude" is now applied to strength of mind; Shakspeare has it in a literal sense.* To " comfort" is to administer strength and courage to the dejected. " Comfortable" is used in two different senses, either to imply a power of affording comfort, or to signify what is capable of receiving comfort, in which sense it may be found in Shakspeare.† The negative of comfort is formed by the prefix dis, and that of comfortable by un, and anciently by dis. We have also " comfortless," formed by the English affix denoting absence or deprivation. An "effort" is an attempt to put forth strength. " Force" also comes from this adjective, which was for­merly written forctis; as also "forcible," having strength; and " enforce" to make strong or binding with force upon others. To " re-inforce" is to supply strength again to; and a "reinforce­ment" is such a supply to an army.

Frons (frontis), the forehead, gives us " front,"

• " The fortitude of the place is best known to you."

Othello. Act i. sc. 3.

† " For my sake be comfortable; hold death Awhile at the arm's end."

As you like it. Act ii. sc. 6.

LECTURE VIII.

" frontal," and " frontlet"; also through the French " frontier," the foremost country, from frons and terra. A " frontispiece" is that which is seen at the front, as a portrait at the commence­ment of a book, from frons and specio. To "affront" is to stand front to front against another, and so applies to an insult offered; to " con­front" is to set the face with or against, to oppose; " effrontery" denotes hardness of front, shame-lessness; expressed by the prefix e contrasting it with shamefacedness, and describing the manner in which a guilty and hardened criminal will sometimes outface his accusers.

Genus (generis) a race or family, a kind or sort, supplies the root of several words. "Gender¹¹ in grammar is a term by which the kind of sex is described. " General" terms are opposed to particular, as species is to genus. The word " general" is also used to designate what is com­mon, usual, and extensive, though not universal. As a noun it is used to describe the main, without insisting on particulars; and in a military sense to the usual commander of an army, also called a " generalissimo;" when he has the supreme com­mand. To " generalize," a word not to be found in Johnson, is to treat of things " generally," as distinguished from particularizing. " Generic" is that which comprehends the genus, but does not distinguish the species. A " generation" signifies a race of men; and to " generate" is to produce

LECTURE VIII.

of the same kind. The original meaning of "generous" indicates noble or illustrious birth; and the term is applied, as is " generosity," to describe what is noble and munificent, as becoming such extraction. A "gentleman" is one of good birth, or who evinces the qualities befitting one of noble origin. Of similar signification is " gentry," as are also "gentility," " genteel," and "gentle." The latter term is used to describe what is becoming persons of a superior class, who above all are called upon to evince " gentleness" of demeanour and temper. " Genuine" and " genuineness" denote what is of the right sort, and what really is of the kind and origin which it professes to be. " Congenial" is of the same kind or disposition. The " Gentiles" meant all other nations and fami­lies of the earth, distinguished from the Israel­ites. " Degenerate" and " degeneracy" imply a departure from the proper kind or nature, that is, from what is of good quality and extraction. "Ingenious" means witty or inventive; and is to be distinguished from " ingenuous" from the same root, meaning open and candid. To " en­gender" is to beget of the same kind; the pro­ducer is called a " progenitor;" and the offspring produced is the " progeny." " Primogeniture" indicates the first-born. " Regenerate" means be-gotten again, and the new birth is "regeneration." The negative to adjectives from this root is formed

LECTURE VIII. 245

by the English prefix un, with the exception of " disingenuous."

Gravis, heavy, supplies "grave" for solemn, as if heavy with cares; a word to be distinguished from grave, to engrave, derived from the Greek grapho to write; as also from a grave, from the Anglo Saxon, which latter, when occurring at the end of names of places indicates a grove or cave. " Gravity" means weight, and is applied not only to solemnity, but to describe a weight of guilt. " Gravitate" and "gravitation"are terms employed to indicate the tendency to the centre of attrac­tion, hence called the centre of gravity. " Grief" implies a weight of sorrow on the mind; to " aggrieve" is to bring such a weight to the mind of another; and such a "grievance" is a " grievous" offence. " Grievously" is also used to describe suffering heavily for any thing.* To " aggravate" and " aggravation" denote a heaping up or accumulating additional wrongs.

Grex (grĒgis) is a flock or herd, and gives us " gregarious," loving to go in company together; and " aggregate," the sum total brought together. To " congregate," is to gather as in a flock, and a " congregation" is an assembly so brought together. " Egregious" means picked out of the

" If it were so, it was a grievous fault; And grievously hath Cæsar answer'd it."

Julius Cæsar. Act iii. st. 2.

LECTURE VIII.

flock, and indicates something remarkable; it is usually applied in a bad sense. Shakspeare has "segregation," to describe the scattering of a fleet, separation from each others company.*

Hospes (hospĬtis), a host or a guest, gives us " host" an entertainer of guests, of which " hostess" is the feminine; also " hospitable" and " hospitality," the negative prefix in forming the opposite. A " hotel" formerly a "hostel," is a house for the reception of guests, the keeper of which was anciently designated mine host. The servant who used first to receive travellers arriving on horseback, was the " hostler" or " ostler;" hence the name is appropriated to a servant of an inn having the care of horses. Any house of reception for strangers was formerly designated by the term " hospital," a word now restricted to a place for the poor, and chiefly for the sick.

Humus, the ground, gives us "humble," " humbleness" and "humility," implying lowliness of mind; also "humiliate" and " humiliation," a casting down, as it were, on the ground. To "exhume" is to dig out of the ground, and to " inhume" is to bury in the earth. A child born after the father's death is called " posthumous;" a term also applied to publications and fame subsequently to a man's death, or literally, after he has been committed to the ground.

* " A segregation of the Turkish fleet."— Othello. Act ii. sc. 1.

LECTURE VIII.

Judex (judĬcis) is a judge; hence we have " judicial" relating to the office and duties of a " judge," also called a " justiciary;" and who sits in "judgment." "Judicature" and " judicatory" relate to " judgment." The term " judicious" is applied in a general sense to denote what is done with judgment. To "adjudge," "adjudicate," and " adjudication," refer to the decisions of a judge. That which is beyond his province is "extrajudicial." To "misjudge" is to decide amiss; to "prejudge" is to decide before due investigation. " Prejudice" is applied to such pre­judging unfavourably; if otherwise, prepossession is the more suitable term. That which is hurtful or injurious is said to be " prejudicial."

Jus (juris) is right, law, or justice. From this root we have " jurist," one learned in the law. "Jurisdiction" describes the extent to which the authority of executing the law reaches in any particular case. " Jurisprudence" is the science of the law. To " injure" is to deal without or against law; and thus to commit an " injury," the result of which is said to be " injurious."

Justus, just, is an adjective derived from jus; and hence we have "just," "unjust," "jus­tice" and "injustice;" also "justify," to make or declare to be just; "justification," the act of justifying; and "justifiable," what is according to justice.

Labor is toil, whence comes " labour," a

LECTURE VIII.

" labourer," and " laborious." To " belabour" is to beat, a word of low usage. To " elaborate" is to produce or bring out with labour; and a " laboratory" is the work-room where a chemist pursues his labours and studies.

Laxus, loose, gives " lax," " laxity," and " lax-ness." To " relax" is to loosen again what had been bound; " relaxation" is a loosening of the bonds of labour—an unbending of the bow, not to be always kept on the stretch. " Prolix" and " prolixity" denote a lengthening out what it would be better to contract.

Lex (lĒgis) is a law; whence come the words "legal," "legality," and " legalize," to make law­ful; also " legislate," " legislative," and " legisla­tion." The " legislature" means the three estates of the realm by whom laws are enacted. All these terms, as also " legislator," are compounded of leges laws, and lotus the past participle of fero to bear or carry. " Legitimate" means according to law. " Illegal" and " illegitimate" are nega­tives, formed by the prefix il for in. " Privilege" means a law for private or separate persons, as distinguished from that intended for the public at large. " Law" and " lawyer" " lawful" and " lawfulness," with the opposites formed by the negative prefix un, are derived from this root.

From liber, free, we have "liberal" and " liberality," with the opposites, formed by the negative prefix il for in. To " liberate" is to

LECTURE VIII.

make free, the act of a ""liberator," whose work is the "liberation" or freedom of those who had been bound or restricted by unjust laws. A " liber­tine" and "libertinism" denote freedom from due restraint. " Liberty" is freedom, such as we happily enjoy under our free constitution and just laws. To " deliver" is to free from slavery or custody; and hence, to rescue, to release, even if from our own possession, and so it has come to mean simply to give up; and it is also applied to "delivering" commands from the mouth. The noun is " deliverance;" and when applied to giving out from the mouth, it is " delivery."

Liber is a book; whence we have " library" and "librarian," a place for, and a keeper of books. " Libel" originally meant a little book; the term is now applied only to that which is scurrilous and abusive.

Libra is a balance; hence comes " librate," to swing to and fro with " libration," being well balanced. " Equilibrium" means equal balance; and to " deliberate" is to weigh well in the mind, in order to act with " deliberation." Libra also signifies a pound, hence the letters Ib. indicate a pound weight; and a crossed £ a pound sterling, denoting a coin equalling a certain number of pieces of money amounting to a fixed weight The English word pound is of Anglo-Saxon origin; but the Latin-derived term denoting a balance is applied both to weights and coins.

LECTURE VIII.

Limes (limĬtis) is a boundary. Hence we have "limit," " limited" and "limitation;" as also " limitless," " illimitable" and " unlimited." One often meets with the term " limited" applied to companies or partnerships at the present day; it indicates that the liability is limited in each case to the extent of the several shareholders' interest. To " eliminate" is to set free, or to banish, literally to put from the boundary or limits.

Lis (lĬtis), strife, or lawsuit, is the root of " litigant," " litigate" and " litigation;" as also of " litigious" addicted to strife, and " litigiousness;" all to be avoided as much as possible.

Litera is a letter; giving the English word, whether applied to a single "letter" or to an epistle made up of many. The term " letters" is sometimes applied to learning in general;* and " lettered" relates to knowledge of books; the opposite being "illiterate." " Literal" means according to the letter. A " literary" person denotes one who is given to letters in the sense of learning; which is called " literature." " Allitera­tion" means a play upon words, employing such as commence with the same letter, made to corre­spond letter to letter. To " obliterate" is to erase the letter.

Locus, a place, gives " local," " locality" and " locate;" as also " locomotion" meaning moving

* " How knoweth this man letters, having never learned?"

John vii. 15.

LECTURE VIII.

from place to place; and a " locomotive" is an engine that has power so to move. To allocate" is to put to its proper place; and to " dislocate" is to put from its place, as a " dislocation" of a limb is putting it out of joint.

Lumen, light, gives " luminary" and " lumi­nous;" also "illume" or "illumine,"* "illuminate," and "illumination;" each implying bringing a light to, or putting a light into, applied both literally and metaphorically. To " relume" is to light up again what had been extinguished or eclipsed. A painter is often designated a " lim­ner," a. term which owed its origin to the " illumi­nating" of manuscripts; which was anciently called "limning."

Magister supplies us with the word " master," its English equivalent; also " mastery," " magis­trate," " magisterial," and " magistracy." These words are to be distinguished from " majesty" and " majestical," derived from the Latin adjective which comes next in order for consideration.

Magnus, is great, of which the more ancient form was majus; whence we have, besides the name of " majesty" (a title first assumed in the 16th century, by the Emperor Charles the Fifth), the inferior titles of "major" and "mayor;" the latter coming to us through the French; but Verstegan and other authorities trace this title to

Illumine."

What in me is dark,

Milton's Paradise Lost.

252 LECTURE VIII.

the Anglo-Saxon verb to may, that is, to be able, to be possessed of power. A youth when he|

-

ceases to be a minor is said to attain his "major-
rity," major being the comparative degree of
m agnus, as minor is of parvus, little. A
" maxim," as having the greatest authority, may
be traced to maximus, the superlative of magnus.
This root also gives us "magnitude" greatness;
likewise "magnify" to make great, with "magnifi-
cent" and " magnificence," each compounded of
this adjective with the verbs fio and facio to make.
" Magnanimity," as before observed, means great-
ness of mind, implied likewise by " magna-
nimous." It may be doubted whether " main,"
applied much as a prefix, as the main-land, the
main-mast, and the main-sea (elliptically the
main), be not rather of Anglo-Saxon origin,
although some derive it from magnus. " Magni-
loquence," like grandiloquence, means greatness
of speech; as its derivation implies; both terms
being used to describe alofty or pompous style
of speaking. The " Magna charta" is the great
charter of our liberties.

From manus, the hand, we have many well-known English words. To " manacle" is to bind the hands; as a fetter, from the Saxon, relates to the feet. To " manage" is, literally, to act with the hand, compounded with this noun and the verb ago to act. " Management" is now applied in a more general sense to denote the superintendence

LECTURE VIII.

of a "manager.'' That which may be controlled

is " manageable;" a horse that cannot be held in is

"unmanageable." The labour of the hands, as

distinguished from that of the brain, is called

" manual." A " manufacture," as well as " manu-

facturer" and "manufactory," refers to what is

made by hand. A small book, that,is handy or

may be easily carried in the hand when one is

travelling, is called a " manual," or as it is now

more usually described in plain English, a Hand-

book. To " manipulate" is to handle. A " mani-

ple" means a hand-full of soldiers, from manus and

pleo to fill. To "manumit" is to send from the

hand, that is, to grant freedom to a slave; from

mitto to send. To " emancipate" is of somewhat

similar signification, but indicates the act of a

third person who takes the captive from the hands of another—compounded with capio to take. "Emancipation" is the act of an " emancipator." "Manifest"(from festim immediately) means what we can quickly or at once lay our hands upon — what is clear. " Maintenance" implies a keeping in the hand, compounded with teneo to hold; and to " maintain" is to keep with a strong band; also applied metaphorically to holding an opinion firmly. A "manuscript," from manus and scriptus written, distinguishes a written from a printed document. " Manœuvre" is a French word Anglicized, and means to do any thing dexterously, that is handily (dexter being the

254 LECTURE VIII.

right hand). Like most military terms this word is of Norman origin, to be traced up to the Latin manus and opera works. The word is applied to cunning, and underhand devices to carry a point.

Mater (matris), a mother, gives " matron," and "matronly" or like a matron (such being the force of the affix ly by which English adverbs are usually formed); also " matronize," to act as a mother to a younger person. " Maternal" means motherly, the Saxon and more endearing term. " Matrimony" and " matrimonial" also come from this root. When a student first enters a university he is said to " matriculate;" his " matriculation" being his adoption as a son to his alma mater, or fair mother, as his college is designated.

MatŪrus is ripe, whence we have " mature;" and when a youth attains to years of discretion he is said to come to " maturity." The terms are also applied literally to fruits; which when unripe are called " immature." The latter word is more usually applied metaphorically to describe what is not ready or made perfect. " Premature" means ripe before the time, and the word is used to describe what only appears ready when really incomplete; and thence measures taken on the pre­sumption that all is ripe for action, are said to be taken " prematurely," or before they are ripe.

LECTURE IX.

ENGLISH WORDS DERIVED FROM LATIN NOUNS SUBSTANTIVE AND ADJECTIVES.

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