by themselves, yet have always fome Subftantive belonging to them, either referred to, or understood: as, This, that, other, any, fome, one, none; thefe are called Definitive, because they define and limit the extent of the Common Name, or General Term, to which they either refer, or are joined. The three firft of thefe are varied to exprefs Number; as, Thefe, thofe, others; the laft of which admits of the Plural form only when its Subftantive is not joined to it, but referred to, or understood: none of them are varied to exprefs the Gender or Cafe. One is fometimes ufed in an Indefinite sense (anfwering to the French on) as in the following phrases; "one is apt to think;"" one fees;"" one fuppofes." Who, which, that, are called Relatives, because they more directly refer to fome Subftantive going before; which therefore is called the Antecedent. They also connect the following part of the Sentence with the foregoing. Thefe belong to all the

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three

three Perfons; whereas the reft belong only to the Third. One of them only is varied to exprefs the three Cafes; Who, whofe [6], (that is, who's [7]) whom: none of them have different endings for the Numbers. Who, which, what, are called Interrogatives, when they are used in afking queftions. The two latter of them

[6] Whofe is by fome authors made the Poffeffive Cafe of which, and applied to things as well as perfons; I think, improperly.

"The question, whofe folution I require,

Is, what the fex of women moft defire."

Dryden. "Is there any other doctrine, whose followers are punished?" Addifon.

The higher Poetry, which loves to confider every thing as bearing a Perfonal Character, frequently applies the perfonal Poffeflive whose to inanimate beings:" "Of man's first disobedience, and the fruit

Of that forbidden Tree, whofe mortal tafte

Brought death into the world, and all our woe." Milton.

[7] So the Saxon kwa hath the Poffeffive Cafe hwas. Note, that the Saxons rightly placed the Aspirate before the w: as we now pronounce it. This will be evident to any one that shall confider in what manner he pronounces the words what, when; that is, boo-àt, boo-en.

have no variation of Number or Cafe. Each, every [8], either, are called Diftributives, because they denote the perfons, or things, that make up a number, as taken feparately and fingly.

Own, and felf, in the Plural felves, are joined to the Poffeffives my, our, thy, your, bis, her, their, as, my own hand; myself, yourselves; both of them expreffing em. phafis, or oppofition; as, "I did it my own felf," that is, and no one else: the latter alfo forming the Reciprocal Pronoun; as,

he hurt himself." Himself, themselves, seem to be used in the Nominative Cafe by corruption inftead of his felf [9], their felues: as," he came bimfelf;"" they did it

[8] Every was formerly much ufed as a Pronominal Adjective, standing by itself: as, "He propofeth unto God their neceffities, and they their own requefts, for relief in every of them." Hooker, v. 39. We now fhould fay, every one.

[9] His felf was formerly in use, even in the Objective Cafe after a Prepofition: "Every of us, each for his self, laboured how to recover him." Sidney.

themselves;"

themselves;" where bimfelf, themselves, cannot be in the Objective Cafe. If this be fo, felf, must be, in thefe inftances, not a Pronoum, but a Noun. Thus Dryden uses it: "What I fhow,

Thy felf may freely on thy felf beftow."

Ourself, the Plural Pronominal Adjective with the Singular Subftantive, is peculiar to the Regal Style.

Own is an Adjective; or perhaps the Participle (owen) of the obfolete verb to sowe, to poffefs; to be the right owner of a thing.

All Nouns whatever in Grammatical Conftruction are of the Third Perfon: except when an address is made to a Perfon; then the Noun, (anfwering to what is called the Vocative Cafe in Latin,) is of the Second Perfon.

ADJEC

A

ADJECTIVE.

N Adjective is a word joined to a Subftantive to exprefs its Quality [1].

In English the Adjective is not varied on account of Gender, Number, or Case. The only variation it admits of is that of the Degrees of Comparison.io mlɔ di v

Qualities for the most part admit of more and lefs, or of different degrees: and the words that exprefs fuch Qualities have accordingly proper forms to express different degrees. When a Quality is fimply expreffed, without any relation to the fame in a different degree, it is called the Pofitive; as wife, great. When it is expreffed with

[1] Adjectives are very improperly called Nouns ; for they are not the Names of things. The Adjectives good, -ubite, are applied to the Nouns man, Snow, to exprefs the Qualities belonging to thofe Subjects; but the Names. of thofe Qualities in the Abstract, (that is, confidered in themselves, and without being attributed to any Subject) are goodness, whiteness; and thefe are Nouns, or Subftantives.

augment.