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Note 1.-Better and best (betest) came from an old positive bet, taken from the verb to beat, in the sense of to surpass.

2. Worse and worst (worest,) came from an old positive wor, formed from the verb to wear. The s in worse is a remnant of the MosoGothic comparative.

3. Mycel (from which come the Scottish mickle and muckle,) was the Anglo-Saxon for much. Many refers to number; mickle, or (English) great, to size; and much, to quantity.

4. Former is very irregular, being a Comparative made from a Superlative, forma.

5. In old, elder, eldest, we find a trace of the vowel-change, which in Anglo-Saxon sometimes accompanied the Comparison of Adjectives. 6. First (for forest,) last (for latest,) next (for nighest, making g hard,) are examples of contracted Superlatives.

7. The Superlatives utmost, foremost, inmost, &c., which would seem at a first glance to be formed by using the auxiliary most as a termination, are thus explained :—

The Anglo-Saxon Superlative forms contain an m; as, ut-ema, for-ma, inn-ema. To this is added ost, another form of est, the usual superlative ending. Thus we have the double superlatives :

Ut-m-ost.

Fore-m-ost.
In-m-ost.

The Anglo-Saxon Adjective.

The Anglo-Saxon Adjective, like the Latin, had terminations to express number, gender, and case.

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The Comparative was generally formed by adding or or re; but the vowel before r varied.

The Superlative was formed by adding ost or este, or a similar syllable with another vowel.

The Article or Demonstrative was thus declined :—

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Note.-We e see by this example how that was once the neuter of the, and can easily recognise the originals of those, them, their, they, and the vulgar provincial thon for yon.

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Examples.-I admire the beautiful blossoms of those

trees.

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1. An Adjective of Descrip- | 1. A Demonstrative Adjec

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RULES FOR THE SYNTAX OF THE ADJECTIVE.

X. Adjectives depend on Nouns and Pronouns; as, a crimson flower; you are sick.

XI. The Demonstrative Adjectives, this and that, agree in number with the Nouns on which they depend; as, this pen; these pens.

EXERCISES FOR PARSING.

Every one to his taste. The brightest and most beautiful object in Nature. These are good pears. High and low, rich and poor, all must bow to the decrees of Providence. Many are called; but few are chosen. I saw a better club at the golf-match. He is happier than I. The setting sun is attended by an array of satellite clouds, more gorgeous and magnificent than the retainers of the most splendid Oriental despot. If you think him thinner, your eyes must be growing dim. Too much money ruins many men. Let the fourth boy repeat six nouns. The first shall be last. tence contained the best example. A really good man is rare. It is true that a figure perfectly square cannot be made squarer. The English language is copious and expressive, though less musical than Italian, and less vivacious. than French. Cromwell's iron heart broke under the heavy stroke of domestic affliction.

The next sen

THE PRONOUN.

A Pronoun is a short word used to prevent a Noun from being repeated too often.

Note. Thus the letter I saves a speaker the trouble of saying his own name continually; and the word we expresses the persons of a group, no matter how large, if it include the speaker.

There are two kinds of Pronoun-Personal and Relative.

The Personal Pronoun.

A Personal Pronoun stands for the name of a person or thing; as, When Frank's gun burst, he let it fall.

In addition to having inflections, which denote Number, Gender, and Case, as in the Noun, the Personal Pronouns change in form to express Person.

Note.-Persona (from per, through, sonare, to sound) meant the brazen mask of a Roman actor. It is easy to trace the changes of applicationfrom mask to actor-then to the character played-then to any character-and so to any person.

The First Person is the speaker. The Pronouns are I, we. The Second Person is the person spoken to. The Pronouns are thou, ye or you.

The Third Person is a person or thing spoken of. The Pronouns are he, she, it, they.

Note.-There is distinction of Gender only in the Pronouns of the Third Person, for, the speaker and the person spoken to being present to each other, there is no need to distinguish sex.

The Personal Pronouns are irregular in their declension in probably every language.

INFLECTION OF THE PERSONAL PRONOUNS.

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Note. The Pronouns of the Third Person are rather Demonstrative

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