CHAP. IX. Of Conjunctions. A CONJUNCTION has been defined to be "that part of speech, which connects words and "sentences together." Mr. Ruddiman, and several other grammarians, have asserted, that Conjunctions never connect words, but sentences. This is evidently a mistake for, if I say, "a man of wisdom and virtue "is a perfect character," it implies not "that a man of wisdom is a perfect character, and a "man of virtue a perfect character," but "a man "who combines wisdom and virtue." The farther discussion of this question, however, I shall at present postpone, as it will form a subject of future enquiry. Conjunctions have been distributed according to their significations, into different classes. This distribution of the Conjunctions I have given, in conformity to general usage, that the reader may be acquainted with the common terms, by which Conjunctions have been denominated, if these terms should occur to him in course of reading. In respect to the real import, and genuine character of these words, I decidedly adopt the theory of Mr. Tooke, which considers Conjunctions as no distinct species of words, but as belonging to the class of Attributives, or as abbreviations for two or more significant words. Agreeably to his theory, And, is an abbreviation for anad, the imperative of ananad, “to add,” or "to accumulate," as, "Two and two make "four;" that is, "Two, add two, make four.” Either is evidently an Adjective expressive of "one of two;" thus, "it is either day or night," that is," one of the two, day or night." It is derived from the Saxon Egther, equivalent to uterque "each."* * That the Saxon word ægther signified each, is sufficiently evident from a variety of examples; and the Adjective either has continued to be used in that sense by reputable writers. Lowth, who, I apprehend, did not advert to its primitive signification, 4 Ór is a contraction for other, a Saxon and English Adjective equivalent to alius or alter, and denotes diversity, either of name or of subject. Hence or is sometimes a perfect Disjunctive, as when it expresses contrariety, or opposi tion of things; and sometimes a Subdisjunctive, when it denotes simply a diversity in name. Thus, when we say, "It is either even or odd," or is a perfect Disjunctive, the two attributives being directly contrary, and admitting no medium. If I say, "Paris or Alexander;" (these being names of the same individual) or if I say, Gravity or "weight," "Logic, or the art of reasoning," or in these examples is a Subdisjunctive or an Explicative, as it serves to define the meaning of the preceding term, or as it expresses the equivalence of two terms. The Latins expressed the former by aut, vel, and the latter by seu or sive. In the following sentence both Conjunctions are exemplified, "Give me either the black, or the white;" i. e. "Give me one of the two-the black-other, the "white." To these are opposed Neither, Nor, as, "Give me neither poverty, nor riches;" i. e. " Give me "not one of the two, poverty-nor, i. e. not the "other, riches." condems the use of it as equivalent to each and notwithstanding its original import, I agree with him in thinking, that it is much better to confine its meaning to "one of two." The reason will be assigned hereafter. Q Though is the same as thaf, an imperative from thafan, to allow, and is in some parts of the country pronounced thof; as, Though he should speak truth, I would not believe him;" i. e. "allow or grant, what? he should speak truth, or "allow his speaking truth, I would not be"lieve him." 38 But, from beutan, the imperative of beon utan, to be out, is the same as without or unless, there being no difference between these in respect to meaning. Grammarians, however, in conformity to the distinction between nisi and sine, have called but a Conjunction, and without a Preposition. But, therefore, being a word signifying exception or exclusion, I have not termed it an "Adversative," as most grammarians have, but an" Exceptive." In this sense it is synonimous with præter, preterquam, or nisi; thus, "I saw no body, but John," i. e. " unless," or except "John." But, from bot, the imperative of botan, to boot or superadd, has a very different meaning. This word was originally written bot, and was thus distinguished from but*. They are now written alike, which tends to create confusion. The meaning of this word is, "add," or "moreover." This interpretation is confirmed by the probable derivation, and meaning of synonimous words in other Bot ser that Virgil standis but compare. Gawin Donglass. languages. Thus, the French mais (but) is from majus or magis, " more," or " in addition;" the Italian ma, the Spanish mus, and the Dutch maar are from the same etymon, signifying "more." And it is not improbable, that adsit (be it present, or be it added) by contraction became ast and at; thus adsit, adst, ast, at. In this sense, but is synonimous with at, autem, cæterum, "moreover," or "in addition." It is justly observed by Mr. Tooke, that bot or but allays or mitigates a good or a bad precedent, by the addition of something; for botan means to superadd," "" to supply," "to atone for," "to "to add something more, "make amends," or "make up deficiency." Thus, compensate," "Once did I lay an ambush for your life," "I did confess". "Add (this) ere I last received,” Richard II. " to When but means be out, or without, it should, says Mr. Tooke, be preceded by a negative; thus, instead of saying, "I saw but John," which means, "I saw John be out," or we should we should say, "I none, John be out," "John being ex had John been out," or "cluded." This, observes the ingenious author, is one of the most faulty ellipses in our language, and could never have obtained, but through the |