Obrazy na stronie
PDF
ePub

the while explained to me what you mean by the naked simple verb unadjectived. Nor have you uttered a single syllable concerning that something which the naked verb unattended by mood, tense, number, person, and gender, (which last also some languages add to it) signifies more or besides the

mere noun.

What is the verb? What is that peculiar differential circumstance which, added to the difinition of a noun, constistutes the verb?

Is the verb, 1. "Dictio variabilis, quæ significat "actionem aut passionem."

Or, 2. "Dictio variabilis per modos."

Or, 3. "Quod adsignificat tempus sine casu." Or, 4." Quod agere, pati, vel esse, significat." Or, 5. "Nota rei sub tempore.

[ocr errors]

Or, 6. "Pars orationis præcipua sine casu."
Or, 7. "An assertion."

Or, 8. "Nihil significans, et quasi nexus et copula, ut verba alia quasi animaret."

Or, 9. "Un mot declinable indeterminatif." Or, 10. "Un mot qui presente à l'esprit un " être indeterminé, designé seulement par l' idée generale de l'existence sous une relation à une " modification."

66

Or, 11.

H. A truce, a truce.....I know you are not serious in laying this trash before me: for you could never yet for a moment bear a negative or a quasi in a definition. I perceive whither you would lead me; but I am not in the humour at present to discuss with you the meaning of Mr. Harris's....

"Whatever a thing may be, it must first of neces

[ocr errors]

sity be, before it can possibly be any thing ELSE." With which precious jargon he commences his account of the verb. No, no. We will leave off here for the present. It is true that my evening is now fully come, and the night fast approaching; yet, if we shall have a tolerably lengthened twilight, we may still perhaps find time enough for a farther conversation on this subject: And finally, (if the times will bear it) to apply this system of language to all the different systems of metaphysical (i. e. verbal) imposture.

[blocks in formation]
[blocks in formation]
« PoprzedniaDalej »