and a predicate, compared with the verb conquered, in which we have the copula and the predicate united in one word.

It is a question how the phrases "to set light by," "to make bold with," etc., should be parsed. They are equivalent to certain verbs to set light by to despise. In some languages, the phrase would be formed into a compound verb. It should be regarded as really such in our own. To make bold with is

an idiom that should not be encouraged.

Note III.-Adjectives often belong to those forms of the participles which are used as nouns; as, "Walking is agreeable;" "loud talking is offensive."

Note IV.-Adjectives belong to Sentences, or whole Propositions: "Greece, which had submitted to the arms, in her turn subdued the understandings of the Romans, and, contrary to that which in these cases commonly happens, the conquerors adopted the opinions and manners of the conquered."-EnFIELD'S Hist. Phil., b. iii., 1. "Writers and critics, misapprehending the true construction of these and similar sentences, have supposed the attributive to belong to the verb, denoting the manner of action. But a little attention to the sense of such passages will be sufficient to detect the mistake. For instance, in the example from Enfield, the attributive contrary can not qualify the verb adopted; for the conquerors did not adopt the opinions of the conquered in a manner contrary to what usually happens; the manner of the act is not the thing affirmed, nor does it come into consideration. The sense is this, the fact that the conquerors adopted the opinions and manners of the conquered was contrary to what commonly happens in like The attributive belongs to the whole sentence or proposition. The same explanation is applicable to every simple sentence. It is not necessary to regard adjectives in such sentences as adverbs, or to change them to adverbs."-WEBSTER, p. 108.

cases.

If a sentence or part of a sentence can so far supply the place of a noun as to be the subject of a verb and the antecedent of a pronoun, why may it not also have an adjective belonging to it?

Note V.-Adjectives are sometimes used to modify the meaning of other adjectives; as, "The iron was red hot," "the ship was quick sailing." These should be regarded as virtually compound adjectives, whether joined by a hyphen or not. Par

ticiples are used in the same way; as, "In came Squire South, stark, staring mad."-ARBUTHNOT. So we meet with "Roaring drunk ;” “loving jealous;" "bloody with spurring, fiery red with speed."

Note VI.-An adjective and a noun may be taken as a compound word, which, as such, may admit of an additional adjective; as, "An elegant young man." The relation in this case is Subordinate; for the adjective young and the noun man form but one idea, which is more definitely defined by the adjective elegant. In the expression, "He is an elegant and a young man," the relation is co-ordinate.

Note VII." Many English verbs take an adjective with them to form the predicate, where an adverb would be used in other languages;" as, "He fell ill;" "he looks pale;" "he feels cold," "he grew warm," "her smiles amid the blushes lovelier show;" "glows not her blush the fairer ?" In these instances, the predicate is formed partly by the verb and partly by the adjective.

In proof of this doctrine, which is advocated by ARNOLD, Dr. WEBSTER had furnished a long list of examples, with comments. In order to understand how the doctrine can be true, it should be borne in mind that a Common verb contains in itself an attributive element or an adjective; and, as one adjective can combine with another when separate from the verb, so it may when it is an element in the verb. See § 513.

Note VIII. The adjectives like, nigh, near, next, are followed by the objective case. In the expression this is like him, the original power of the dative remains, though in current language him is in the accusative case. This is inferred, 1. From the fact that, in most languages that have inflections to a sufficient extent, the word meaning like governs a dative case; 2. That if we ever use any preposition at all to express similitude, it is the preposition to; like to me. Some grammarians prefer considering the preposition to understood as the governing word.

Note IX.-Adjectives are often used as Substantives, especially when preceded by the definite article or the demonstrative pronouns, and sometimes take the sign of the plural; as, “The wise;" "the deep," "the sublime;" "these evils of war;" "those goods of fortune;" "these sweets of life."

Note X.-A substantive, or a phrase standing immediately before a substantive, is often equivalent to an adjective; as, “A barn door;" "the marriage act;""an off-hand manner." See § 266.

Note XI.-When an adjective is used to express comparison between two objects, it is put in the Comparative degree; as, "He is the taller of the two;" "she is more discreet than her sister." Even good writers, however, sometimes depart from this usage, and employ the Superlative in the comparison between two objects. This practice should not be encouraged.

Note XII.-When an adjective is used to express comparison between more than two objects of the same class, it is put in the Superlative; as, "He was the bravest of the brave;""she was the loveliest of women.”.

In the use of the Comparative degree, if the terms of compar ison belong to one and the same class, other is prefixed to the second term; as, "Socrates was wiser than the other Athenians." In the use of the Superlative degree, as the object expressed by the first term of the comparison is contained in the class expressed by the second term, the word other can not be admitted; as, "Socrates was the wisest of the Athenians," not the wisest of the other Athenians. "The loveliest of her daughters, Eve," is phraseology condemned, on the ground that it implies that the first term, Eve, is contained in the second term of the comparison, daughters; whereas, from the nature of the case, it can not be thus contained.

Note XIII.-Double Comparatives and Superlatives should be avoided; as, "More wiser;" "more braver;" "most strongest." Worser is obsolete, but lesser is still in use, as well as its abbreviation less. The superlative form of certain adjectives, which in the positive contain the utmost degree of the quality, is not in correct use; as, Extremest, chiefest; truest, rightest. Certain other pleonastic expressions of this kind are in current use among respectable authors; as, More perfect, most perfect; less universal, so universal; most unkindest; "but that I love thee best, O most best, believe it."-Hamlet. This phraseology is not to be encouraged, though we may have to submit to it. Thus the word lesser is used for less by good authors.

Note XIV. Adjectives and Adverbs are sometimes improp

erly used for each other; as, "Extreme bad weather," for extremely; "the then ministry," for the then existing ministry; "weeds and flowers promiscuous shoot," for promiscuously; "indifferent honest," for indifferently honest.

Note XV.-An adjective is sometimes used Infinitively, or Independently of a noun, when joined to a verb infinitive or to a participle; as, "To be cheerful is the habit of a truly pious mind;" "the desire of being happy reigns in all hearts." note second.

See

THE COLLOCATION

OF

ADJECTIVES.

§ 491. The adjective is generally placed immediately before the substantive; as, A learned man; a virtuous woman.

Exception 1. When the adjective is closely connected with some other word, by which its meaning is modified or explained; as, "A man loyal to his prince;" "he is four years old," "an army fifty thousand strong," "a wall three feet thick."

Exc. 2. When the verb serves chiefly the purpose of a copula, to unite the predicate with its subject; as, "Thou art good ;" "he fell sick."

Exc. 3. When there are more adjectives than one connected with the substantive; as, "A man wise, learned, valiant, and good."

Exc. 4. When metrical harmony will be obtained; as,

"With eyes upraised, as one inspired,

Pale Melancholy sat retired."

Exc. 5. When the adjective is preceded by an adverb, the noun is often placed first; as, "A man conscientiously exact."

Exc. 6. When an adjective becomes a title; as, "Alexander the Great," "Henry the First."

Exc. 7. When time, number, or dimension are specified, the adjective follows the substantive; as, "He is four years old;" "an army twenty thousand strong," "a wall three feet thick."

Exc. 8. When an emphatical adjective is used to introduce a sentiment, it precedes, at some distance, the substantive which it qualifies; as, "Sorry I am to hear liberty of speech in this house imputed as a crime."

Exc. 9. The adjective all may be separated from its substantive by the; as, "All the nations of Europe." Such and many,

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when they modify nouns in the singular number, are separated from them by a; as, "Such a character is rare;' many a time."

All adjectives are separated from nouns by a when preceded by so or as: "So rich a dress;" "as splendid a retinue." They are also separated by a and the when preceded by how or however; as, "How distinguished an act of bravery;" "how brilliant the prize;" "however just the complaint;" and by too; as, "Too costly a sacrifice." The word soever may be interposed between the attributive and the noun; as, "How clear soever this idea of infinity; how remote soever it may seem."LOCKE. Double, in the sense of twice, is separated from its noun by the or a; as, "Double the or a distance." In the sense of two-fold it is preceded by the or a; as, "The or a double wrapper." Both is separated from its noun by the; as, "Both All and singular, or every, precede the before the noun in these phrases: "All and singular the articles, clauses, and conditions;" "all and every of the articles"-phrases of the law style.

the men."

Exc. 10. Worth not only follows the noun which it qualifies, but is followed by a noun denoting price or value; as, 66 A book worth a dollar;" "it is well worth the money;" "it is worth observation." If a pronoun is used after worth, it must be in the objective case: It is worth them, or it.

Exc. 11. Certain adjectives, formed by the prefix a, follow a verb and a noun to which they belong, but never precede the noun. Such are, Adry, afeared, afraid, alone, alike, aware, akin, alive, asleep, awake, athirst, aloft, aghast, afloat, askew, ashamed, pursuant, plenty, worth; to which may be added, amiss, aground, ashore, aside, and a few others, which may be used as modifiers or adverbs. We say one is adry, ashamed, alive, or awake; but never an adry person, an ashamed child.

Exc. 12. Certain other adjectives, like pursuant, regent, rampant, follow the noun; as, "A proclamation was issued pursuant to advice of council;" "the prince regent," "a lion rampant."

In certain cases, adjectives can either follow or precede the noun, at the option of the writer.