date

1826 Nov. 5th Logic Languages
1826 Nov. 5th

Logic Languages

3

Ch. or '. Conjectural History

3

Nouns adjective and verbs which came forth first ? the adjective or the verb it seems not at present very easy to determine. What is certain is that of the adjective the idea is altogether simple in comparison with that of the verb; but as above, simplicity, so far from being an evidence of priority, is rather an evidence to the contrary.

When once the verb substantive was established the greatest of all strides was made in the track of abstraction and generalization. Added to a correspondent set of adjectives, this one verb is capable of performing the office of all other verbs.

In the logical sense of the word conjugate every verb is a cluster or set of conjugates - of conjugates bearing the same relation to each other. In the instance of every such aggregate, accordingly, to conjugate a verb, is, in the hitherto current language of grammarians (for in this respect, in the language of logicians, there is a difference) - to enumerate the several words which enter into the composition of the aggregate so denominated.

To see clearly into the nature of this aggregate, it will be necessary to take an inventory of the ideas the signs of which enter into the composition of it.

Distinguish them in the first place into principal and accessory.

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