Dictionary. greatest propriety; showed the various deviations from

that original meaning, which cuftom had fo far eftablished as to render allowable; and fixed the precife limits beyond which it could not be employed without becoming a vicious expreffion? With this view, it would have been neceffary to exhibit the nice diftinctions that take place between words which are nearly fynonymous. Without this, many words can only be defined in fuch a manner, as that they must be confidered as exactly fynonymous. We omit giving any quotations from Johnfon, to point out these defects; and fhall content ourfelves with giving a few examples, to fhow how, according to our idea, a dictionary of the English language ought to be compiled.

IMMEDIATELY. adv. of time.

1. Inftantly, without delay. Always employed to
denote future time, and never paft. Thus, we may
fay, I will come immediately; but not, I am im-
mediately come from fuch a place. See PRESENTLY.
2. Without the intervention of any caufe or event;
as opposed to mediately.
PRESENTLY. adv. of time.

1. Inftantly, without delay. Exactly fynonymous
with immediately; being never with propriety em-
ployed to denote any thing but future time.
2. Formerly it was employed to exprefs prefent
time. Thus, The houfe prefently poffeffed by fuch
a one, was often ufed: but this is now become a
vicious expreffion; and we ought to say, The house
poffeffed at prefent. It differs from immediately in
this, that even in the moft corrupt phrases it ne-
ver can denote past time.

FORM. fubft. The external appearance of any ob-
ject, when confidered only with refpect to fhape
or figure. This term therefore, in the literal
fenfe, can only be applied to the objects of the
fight and touch; and is nearly fynonymous with
figure: but they differ in fome refpects. Form
may be employed to denote more rude and unfi-
nifhed fhapes; figure, those which are more per-
fect and regular. Form can never be employed
without denoting matter; whereas figure may be
employed in the abftract: thus, we fay a fquare
or a triangular figure; but not a fquare or triangu-
lar form. And in the fame manner we say, the
figure of a house; but we muft denote the fub.
ftance which forms that figure, if we use the
word form; as, a cloud of the form of a house,
&c. See Figure.

2. In contraft to irregularity or confufion.

As

beauty cannot exift without order, it is by a figure of fpeech employed to denote beauty, order,

&c.

3. As form refpects only the external appearance of bodies, without regard to their internal qualities, it is, by a figure of speech, employed in contraft to thefe qualities, to denote empty fhow, without effential qualities. In this fenfe it is often taken when applied to religious ceremonies,

&c.

4. As form is employed to denote the external apof bodies; fo, in a figurative fense, it is pearance applied to reasoning, denoting the particular mode

or manner in which this is conducted; as, the Dictionary. form of a fyllogifm, &c.

5. In the fame manner it is employed to denote the
particular mode of procedure eftablished in courts
of law; as, the forms of law, religion, &c.
6. Form is fometimes, although improperly, used
to denote the different circumftances of the fame
body; as, water in a fluid or a folid form. But
as this phrafe regards the internal qualities ra-
ther than the external figure, it is improper; and
ought to be, water in a fluid or a folid flate.
7. But when bodies of different kinds are compared
with one another, this term may be employed to
denote other circumstances than fhape or figure:
for we may fay, a juice exfuding from a tree in
the form of wax or refin; although, in this case,
the confiftence, colour, &c. and not the exter-
nal arrangement of parts, conftitutes the refem-
blance.

per

8. From the regular appearance of a number of fons arranged in one long feat, fuch perfons fo arranged are fometimes called a form; as, a form of ftudents, &c. And,

9. By an eafy tranfition, the feat itself has also acquired that name.

GREAT. adj. A relative word, denoting large

nefs of quantity, number, &c. ferving to augment the value of thofe terms with which it is combined, and oppofed to fmall or little. The principal circumstances in which this word can be employed are the following:

1. When merely inanimate objects are confidered with regard to quantity, great is with proptiety employed, to denote that the quantity is confiderable; as, a great mountain, a great house, &c. and it is here contrafted with fmall. When great is thus employed, we have no other word that is exactly fynonymous.

2. When inanimate objects are confidered with regard to their extent, this term is fometimes employed, although with lefs propriety; as, a great plain, a great field, &c. And in this fenfe it is nearly fynonymous with large; and they are of ten used indifcriminately, but with fome difference of meaning: for, as large is a term chiefly employed to denote extent of fuperficies, and as great more particularly regards the quantity of matter; therefore, when large is applied to any object which is not merely fuperficial, it denotes that it is the extent of furface that is there meant to be confidered, without regard to the other dimenfions: whereas when the term great is employed, it has a reference to the whole contents. If, therefore, we fay, a large houfe, or a large river, we express that the house, the river, have a furface of great extent, without having any neceffary connection with the fize in other refpects. But if we fay, a great houfe, or a great river, it at once denotes that they have not only a large furface, but are also of great size in every refpect.

3. Great, when applied to the human fpecies, never denotes the fize or largenefs of body, but is applied folely to the qualities of the mind. Thus,

when we fay, that Socrates was a great man, we do not mean that he was a man of great fize, but that he was a man who excelled in the endowments of the mind. The terms which denote largeness of size in the human body are, big, bulky, huge, &c.

4. Great is fometimes applied to the human fpecies, as denoting high rank. In this cafe it is oftener ufed in the plural number than otherwise. Thus we fay fimply, the great, meaning the whole body of men in high ftation, as opposed to mean. fhould feldom be employed in this fenfe, as it tends to confound dignity of rank with elevation of mind.

It

6. It is employed to denote every step of afcending or defcending confanguinity; as, great-grandfather, great-grandfon, &c.

HIGH. adj. Exalted in a perpendicular direction at a distance from the surface of the earth. Oppofed to low.

1. High is a term altogether indefinite, and is employed to exprefs the degree of elevation of any inanimate body. Thus we fay, a high mountain, a high houfe, fleeple, tower, pillar, &c. Nor is there any other word that can here be confidered as fynonymous; lofty being employed only to denote a very eminent degree of elevation. 2. To express the perpendicular elevation of vegetables, either high or tall may be employed, as being in this cafe nearly fynonymous. We may therefore fay, a high or tall tree, a high or tall maft, &c. but with this difference between these two expreffions, that tall can be more properly applied to those that are much elevated and of fmall dimenfions; and high, to fuch as are more bulky, and of greater fize.

3. The perpendicular height of man can never be expreffed by the word high; tall being here the proper expreffion. And altho' high is fometimes ufed to exprefs the height of other animals, yet it feems to be an improper expreffion. See TALL. 4. High, when applied to the human fpecies, always refers to the mind; and denotes haughtiness, ftatelinefs, pride, &c. and, when combined with the expreffions of any energy of the mind, it denotes that in a higher degree. In this fenfe, it is oppofed to meanness, abjectness, and humility. 5. As this is an indefinite term, tending to denote any thing that is elevated above us, it may be combined with almost every noun which admits of this elevation. And as objects high above us are always out of our reach, it is in a metaphorical fenfe used to denote any thing that seems to be above the ordinary condition of mankind; or those qualities or endowments of mind that are not eafily acquired: as, dignity or elevation of fentiment; dignity of rank; acuteness in reasoning on difficult fubjects; pride, haughtiness, or any other quality which feems beyond the ordinary level of mankind; dearnefs of price, &c.

6. In the fame manner we apply this term to time; Dictionary. which having a metaphorical-refemblance to a river flowing on with an unceafing current through all fucceffive ages, any thing of remote antiquity is denoted by the term high.

7. Likewise thofe degrees of latitudes far removed from the line, where the pole becomes more elevated.

8. And to fome particular crimes, as being attended with peculiar degrees of guilt; as, high treafon.

TALL. adj. Something elevated to a confiderable degree in a perpendicular direction. Opposed to low.

1. This term is chiefly employed to express the
height of man and other animals; and is applied
to denote the height of the body only, without
having any reference to the mind. When ap-
plied to man, no other word can be substituted
in its flead: when applied to other animals, high-
is fometimes confidered as nearly fynonymous.
See HIGH.

2. It is likewife employed to denote the perpendi-
cular height of vegetables; and in this cafe, it is
nearly fynonymous with high. See HIGH.
3. It can in no cafe be employed to exprefs the
height of merely inanimate objects; as we can ne-
ver fay a tall fleeple, tower, or pillar, but a high
Reeple, &c.
For the diftinctions in thefe cafes,

fee HIGH.

LONG. adj. A relative term, denoting the distance between the extremes of any body, which is extended more in one of its geometrical dimensions than another. Oppofed to bort.

or in

1. This term may be applied to all inanimate objects, of watever kind, whofe dimenfions in one way exceeds the other, and when not in an erect posture, whatever be the other circumstances attending them; whether it relates to fuperficies alone, or to folid bodies; whether thefe be bounded or open, straight or crooked, flexible or rigid, any other circumftances whatever: thus we fay, a long or bort line, a long or fhort ridge, ftreet, ditch, rope, chain, flaff, &c. But it is to be obferved, that although long is in the ftrict fenfe only oppofed to fort; yet as it expreffes the ex-tenfion of matter in one of its geometrical proportions, it is often contrafted by those words which exprefs the other proportions when we mean only to defcribe the feveral proportions: as, a table long and broad. And as these feveral dimenfions are expreffed by different words, according to the various forms, modifications, and eircumftances, in which bodies are found, therefore it is in this fenfe contrafted by a great diverfity of terms: as, a long and broad or wide, narrow or frait, ftreet or lane; a long and thick, or fmall, rope, chain, ftaff. For the diftinctions in these cafes, fee BROAD, WIDE, &C.

2. Objects neceffarily fixed in an erect position can never have this term applied to them; and there-fore we cannot fay a long, but a high, tower or fteeple. And for the fame reason, while trees are growing and fixed in an erect pofition, we cannot apply this term to them; but when they are fell-

edi

ed and laid upon the ground, it is quite proper and neceffary. Thus, we do not say a long, but a tall or high tree, while it is growing; but we fay a long, not a tall log of wood: and in the fame manner we fay a tall mafl, when it is fixed in the fhip; but a long maft, while it lies upon the beach. See TALL and HIGH.

3. Thofe vegetables which are of a tender pliant nature, or fo weak as not to be able to retain a fixt pofition, being confidered as of a middle nature between erect and proftrate bodies, admit of either of the terms long, tall, or high; as, a long or tall rub or willow wand, or a long, tall, or high ftalk of corn. See HIGH and TALL. 4. The parts of vegetables, when confidered as diftinct from the whole, even when growing and erect, affume the term long for we do not fay a tall, but a long, shoot of a tree; and a tree with a long ftem, in preference to a tree with a high stem. 5. For the fame reason, a staff, and pole, even when fixed in a perpendicular direction, assume the word long, in preference to tall or high.

6. With regard to animals, the general rule is applied, without any exceptions: tall, and not long, being employed to denote the height of the human body, when in an erect poiture; and long, and not tall, to denote its length when in an incumbent fituation. Long, applied to all other animals which do not walk erect, always denotes their greatest length in a horizontal pofition from head to tail.

7. In a figurative fenfe, it denotes, with regard to time, any thing at a great distance from us. 8. As alfo, any thing that takes up much time before it is finished; as, a long difcourfe, a protraded note in mufic, &c.

BROAD, adj. The distance between the two neareft fides of any body, whofe geometrical dimenfions are larger in one direction than in another; and has a reference to fuperficies only, and never to the folid contents. Opposed to narrow. 1. Broad, in the ftricteft acceptation, is applied to denote those bodies only whofe fides are altoge ther open and unconfined; as, a broad table, a broad wheel, &c.: and in these cases it is invariably contrafted by the word narrow; nor is there any other word which in these cases can be confidered as fynonymous with it, or used in its stead. 2. When any object is in fome fort bounded on the fides, although not quite clofed up, as a road, ftreet, ditch, &c. either broad or wide may be employed, but with fome difference of fignification; broad being moft properly used for thofe that are more open, and wide for those which are more confined: nor can this term be ever applied to fuch objects as are clofe bounded all around, as a house, a church, &c. wide being here employed. For the more accurate diftinctions in these cases, see the article Wide.

WIDE. adj. A term employed to denote relative extent in certain circumftances. Oppofed to narnow and frait.

1. This term is in its proper fenfe applied only to denote the space contained within any body closed all round on every fide; as a house, gate, &c,; and

differs from broad in this, that it never relates to Dictionary. the fuperficies of folid objects, but is employed to exprefs the capacioufnefs of any body which containeth vacant fpace; nor can capaciousness in this fenfe be expreffed by any other word but wide.

2. As many bodies may be confidered either with
respect to their capacioufnefs or fuperficial ex-
tent; in all these cafes, either the term broad or
wide may be ufed; as, a broad or wide fireet-or
ditch, &c. but with a greater or lefs degree of
propriety, according to the circumftances of the
object, or the idea we wish to convey. In a freet
where the houses are low and the boundaries o
pen, or in a ditch of fmall depth and large fuper-
ficies, as this largenefs of fuperficies bears the
principal proportion, broad would be more pro-
per: but if the houfes are of great height, or the
ditch of great depth, and capaciousness is the prin-
cipal property that affects the mind, we would
naturally fay a wide fireet or ditch; and the fame
may be faid of all fimilar cafes. But there are fome
cafes in which both these terms are applied, with
a greater difference of meaning; thus we fay a
broad or a wide gate: But as the gate is employ-
ed to denote either the aperture in the wall, or
the matter which clofes that aperture, these terms
are each of them used to denote that particular
quality to which they are generally applied and
as the opening itself can never be confidered as a
fuperficies, the term wide, in this cafe, denotes
the distance between the fides of the aperture;
while, on the contrary, broad denotes the extent
of matter fitted to clofe that aperture; nor can
thefe two terms in any case be substituted for one
another.

3. As a figurative expreffion, it is ufed as a cant
phrase for a mistake: as, you are wide of the mark;
that is, not near the truth.
NARROW. adj. A relative term, denoting a pro-
portional fmallness of diftance between the fides
of the fuperficies of plain bodies. Oppofed to

broad.

1. As this is only applied to fuperficies, it is exactly contrafted by broad, and is applied in all cafes where the term broad can be used, (fee BROAD); and in no other cafe but as a contrast to it, except the following.

2. It fometimes is employed to describe the smallnefs of space circumfcribed between certain boundaries, as opposed to wide, and nearly fynonymous with ftrait; as we fay a wide or a narrow house, church, &c. For the neceffary distinctions here, fee the article STRAIT.

3. In a figurative fenfe it denotes parfimony, poverty, confined fentiments, &c.

STRAIT, adj. A relative term, denoting the extent of space in certain circumstances. Oppofed to wide; fee WIDE.

1. This term is employed, in its proper sense, to denote only space, as contained between furrounding bodies in fuch circumstances as to denote fome degree of confinement; and is exactly opposed to wide: as, a wide or a firait gate, &c. See WIDE. 2. So neceflary is it that the idea of confinement

fhould

fhould be connected with this word, that in all thofe cafes where the space contained is large, as in a church or house, we cannot express a smaller proportional width by this term. And as we have no other word to exprefs fpace in these circumftances, we have been obliged to force the word narrow from its natural fignification, and make it exprefs this. See NARROW.

:

3. In fome particular cafes, narrow or strait may be employed to the fame object; as, a narrow or a frait line but here frait is never employed but where an idea of confinement is fuggefted, and where it is exactly contrafted to wide; nor can narrow be employed but in fuch circumftances where broad would be a perfect contraft to it. Therefore these two terms may be always employed in the fame circumstances as thofe which contraft them may be. For an account of which, fee WIDE.

3. The term frait is likewife in a peculiar manner used to denote the fmallness of the internal diameter of thofe fmall bodies which are fitted to receive or contain others, as any kind of bag, tube, body-clothes, mortoifes, and others of the fame kind; and in all thefe cafes this term may be employed to denote the smallness of their leffer diameter, and never the term narrow. But in certain circumstances the word tight may be fubftituted for it. See TIGHT.

4. Strait, in a figurative fenfe, denotes any fort of confinement of fentiment or difpofition. TIGHT. adj. A term employed in certain circumftances to denote the internal capacity of particular bodies. Nearly fynonymous with trait. This term is confined entirely to denote the fmallnefs of the internal dimenfions of such objects as are formed to cover or to receive or contain other folid bodies, and can be employed in no other cafe. And although it agrees with ftrait, in always denoting confinement, and by being applicable to the fame fpecies of objects, yet it differs in the following refpects: 1. If there be any difference of the diameter of the objects to which the term ftrait can be applied, it always has reference to the fmaller; yet tight may be applied to any fort of confinement, whether it regards the length or breadth. 2. Strait can be applied to all bodies of capacity when of small diameter, without any fort of reference to the nature of the fubftance which it may be capable of containing. For we can fay a frait bag, a ftrait fleeve, a firait mortoife, a firait gate, &c. whereas tight can only be applied to any body when it is confidered as having reference to another body which is intended to be contained in it, and is pinched for want of room. Thus we fay, the fleeve of a soat is too tight for the arm, the mortoife is too tight for the tenon, &c.; but we cannot say, the bag, or the gate, is too tight, because these are fitted to receive any fort of objects. And hence it happens, that, in many cafes, the dimenfions of the fame body may be expreffed by tight or ftrait when confidered in different circumftances. Thus we may lay, this fleeve is too flrait, when we look at

a coat when lying on the table, and confider its Dictionary.
proportions; but it is not till we have tried it up-
on the arm that it is intended to cover, that we
call it tight. And we may fay, a gate is too firait,
or too tight but in the firft cafe we confider it as
being too confined for admitting objects to pafs
through it; and in the laft, as being too confined
with refpect to the leaves that are to fhut the a-
perture, not allowing them space to move with
freedom.

Thefe examples may ferve to give some idea of the plan of an English Dictionary compofed upon philofophical principles: But, befides the circumstances above enumerated, there are many others which would require particular attention in the execution of a work of this kind. In the English language, a great variety of terms occur, which denote matter under certain general forms or circumstances, without regarding the minute diverfities that may take place; as the word cloth, which denotes matter as manufactured into a particu-lar form, including under it all the variety of stuffs manufactured in that particular way, of whatever materials, colours, texture, or fineness, they may be. The fame may be faid of wood, iron, yarn, and a great variety of terms of the fame nature, fome of which cannot affume any plural; while others admit of it in all cafes, and others admit or refufe it according to the different circumftances in which they are confidered. In a dictionary, therefore, all this variety of cafes, ought to be clearly and diftinctly pointed out under each particular article: this is the more neceffary, as fome of these words have others formed from them,, which might be readily mistaken for their plurals, altho' they have a very different fignification; as cloaths, which does not denote any number of pieces or different kinds of cloth, but wearing apparel. The following. example will illuftrate this head.

WOOD. fub. A folid fubftance, of which the trunks. and branches of trees confift.

1. This term is employed to denote the folid parts of vegetables of all kinds, in whatever form or cir-cumftances they are found. Nor does this term admit of plural with propriety, unless in the circumstances after-mentioned: for we say, many different kinds of wood, in preference to many kinds of woods; or, we fay, oak, afb, or elm wood, not

woods.

Didactic.

each letter could be made to affume, a particular mark, Dictionary which was appropriated to denote that particular found of the letter whenever it occurred; by placing these particular marks above the letters in the dictionary, the found of each letter would be pointed out in all cafes with the utmost certainty. It would be impoffible for us to illuftrate this by examples, without first afcertaining all the founds of each letter; which would lead us into a difcuffion too long for this place.

Dictionary. veral provincial dialects were likewife given, it would be of great utility: nor would this take much time; because a number of thefe words needs no other explanation than to mark along with them the words which had come in their place, when there happened to be one perfectly fynonymous: and in thofe cafes where the fame idea could not be expreffed in modern language without a periphrafis, it would be of ufe to explain them diftinctly; fo that, when a writer found himself at a lofs for a term, and obliged to fearch for one beyond the bounds of our own language, he might take one of these, when he found that it was expreffive and energetic, in preference to another drawn from a foreign language. This would at least have one good effect: it would make our language more fixed and ftable; not to fay more accurate and precife, than by borrowing from foreign languages. The following examples may ferve to give fome idea of the manner of treating this part of the work.

MOE, or мO. adj. An obfolete term ftill employed in the Scotch dialect, and by them pronounced mae; denoting a greater number, and nearly fynonymous with more: but it differs in this refpect, that in the Scotch dialect, mae and mair (Eng lith more) are each employed in their diftinct fphere, without encroaching upon one another; mae being employed to denote number, but never quantity or quality; and mair, to denote quantity and quality, but never number: thus they fay mae, not mair, apples, men, &c, and they fay mair, not mae, cloth, earth, courage, &c. See MAIR. Both of thefe terms are fupplied by the word more; which in the English language is applied indifcriminately to denote quantity, quality, and number. See MORE.

:

THIR. pron. Obfolete; ftill employed in the Scotch dialect the plural of this; and contrafted to thefe, in the fame manner as that is to this. As there is no word in the English language equivalent to this, we thus fhow the manner in which it is employed. In the English language we fay, that ftone or houfe, pointing at one at a diftance, is larger or more commodious than this flone or this houfe, which is fuppofed to be at hand. In the fame manner, in the Scotch dialect, they fay, thefe (or, as it is pronounced, thae) ftones are whiter than thir flones; denoting, that the former are at a diftance, and the latter at hand. And, in the fame manner, it is invariably applied to denote any prefent object in the plural number, as oppofed to thefe: as thefe or thir apples, as at hand, or at a distance; thefe, or thir trees, &c; but never in the fingular number, as it is always this or that tree, houfe, &c.

As the English language is fo exceedingly irregular in the pronunciation, the fame letter in the fame fituation often affuming founds totally different in different words, it is impoffible to eftablish any general rules on this fubject, which do not admit of many exceptions: therefore, a dictionary is the beft means of afcertaining and pointing out the proper pronunciation of words. For, if the writer firft pointed out all the different founds that the fame letter could ever be made to exprefs, and affigned to every particular found which

N° 101.

pro

We shall only further obferve, that, befides having the accented fyllable of every word properly distinguished in a dictionary to affift in the pronunciation, the English language requires another effential improvement, viz. the ufe of accents to diftinguish the meaning of words and phrafes: which, although it is not fo properly confined to a lexicographer, yet it is not quite without his fphere. Thus the word as admits of two very different founds, as well as different fignifications; as in this example, "Cicero was nearly as eloquent as Demofthenes:" in which the firft as is nounced afs, and the laft is pronounced az. Now, it often happens, that, in reading, the particular way in which it ought to be understood is not pointed out by the context, till after the word itfelf is pronounced, which has an equal chance at least of being pronounced wrong; whereas, if it were always accented when employed in the one fenfe, and not in the other, it would free the reader from this perplexity. There are other cafes in which the ufe of proper accents in writing would be of great confequence; as at the beginning of a fentence, when it was put as a queftion, or ufed ironically, &c. the want of which every one must have obferved. But as this does not so properly belong to the lexicographer as the grammarian, we shall

here take no further notice of it.

The above examples, we hope, will be fufficient to give the reader fome idea of the plan that we would propofe; and enable him to determine, whether or not a dictionary, executed upon this plan, would convey to his mind a more perfect knowledge of the English language, than thofe dictionaries that have been hitherto published. Thefe examples were given rather with a view to fhow the manner in which a work of this kind might be conducted, than as perfect and unexceptionable explanations of the feveral articles there. enumerated; and therefore we did not think it neceflary to produce any authorities, although we are fenfible that they would be requifite in fuch a work.

DICTYMNIA, or DICTYNNIA, in mythology, were feafts celebrated at Lacedæmon and in Crete, in honour of Diana Dictymnia or Dictynnia, or of a nymph taken for her, who, having plunged herfelf into the fea, to efcape the paffion of Minos, was caught in a fisherman's net or dixivar, whence the name.

DICTYS (Cretenfis), a very ancient historian, who ferving under Idomeneus king of Crete in the Trojan war, wrote the hiftory of that expedition in nine books; and Tzetzes tells us, that Homer formed his Iliad upon the plan of that hiftory. It is however maintained, that the Latin hiftory of Dictys which we have at prefent is fpurious."