Abstract of Logic, Book 1 · Chapter 25
CHAP. XXV. Of Etymology and Conjugates.
Ax. 1. IN Dictions are firſt to be conſider'd their Etymology and Conjugation, and then Synonymy, and Homonymy, and Acception Words, which the Schoolmen call Suppoſition.
Ax. 2. Etymology is the Reaſon of a Words Signification declar'd out of the Original.
COMMENTARY.
1. §. Which much aſſiſts our Minds in the Search after the Knowledge of Things: For whilſt you ſee (ſays the Learned Iſiodore) from whence the Word is derived, you the ſooner underſtand the Force of that thing which you wou'd look into.
Ax. 3. Etymologies are taken either from the Cauſes, Effects, Proprieties, Objects, and other Adjuncts, and Effect an Underſtanding of theſe.
1. §. So foreign, Letter is ſaid from foreign, that is, write: Becauſe Letters are made by Writing: And Man in the Hebrew, Adam, from the Verb Adam; that is, look red, from whence alſo Adamah, that is, red Earth, of which Colour the Earth uſes to be when till'd; becauſe Man was created out of the Earth. So Conſul from conſulendo, that is, Counſelling: Angelus ab foreign, that is, Nuncio, or declare are ſo called; becauſe the End and Effect of the one is to conſult the Republick, and of the other to declare the Commands of God to Men. So foreign, Temperance, ſays Ariſtotle, Book 1. of the Eth. Cap. 5. is ſo ſaid, as tho' foreign, that is, it preſerved Prudence. For it is the Property of that Virtue, ſo to moderate the Mind both in Grief and Pleaſure, as that the Judgment may not be depraved about Practical Things. Arithmetick is ſo call'd from Number; becauſe it is converſant about Numbers, &c.
Ax. 4. Conjugates are thoſe which joyned in Affinity of Word and Signification, differ yet in Termination.
1. §. As Juſtice, juſt, juſtly, &c. Thoſe that differ not in Termination; as Grammatica, the Art of Grammar, and Grammatica, a Woman, are not Conjugates, but Homonyms: And theſe are perfect Conjugates. There are alſo others, which convene in Word and not Signification; as Ebrius, Ebrioſus, Somnus, Somnolentus, &c. For neither is every one a Drunkard that is drunken; nor is he at all times Drunken that is a Drunkard. Theſe, with Grammarians may be Conjugates; but by Logicians they are rejected. Others, laſtly, there are which agree in Signification, not Word; as, Virtue and Honeſty, &c. which altho' properly, they are not Conjugates; yet in Logick they have the Force of Conjugates, &c.
Ax. 3. Conjugation conſiſts in a Primitive Paronymous, or Denominated Word and Caſe.
Ax. 6. A Primitive is an Abſtracted Word not Denominated from any other.
1. §. In Diſcerning of the Primitive or the Abſtracted from the Derivative Word, the Paucity or Multitude of Syllables, is not in this Place to be regarded as by Grammarians, but only the Nature of things. For Example: Juſtice is by Grammarians deriv'd from Juſt; Becauſe this is a Diſſyllable, that a Monoſyllable. But by Logicians Juſt is deriv'd from Juſtice; becauſe that is a Concrete, this an Abſtract Word, and therefore the more ſimple.
Ax. 7. A Paronymous is a Concrete Word, and ſo deriv'd from the Primitive, as that it differs only from it in Termination.
1. §. Hitherto belong all Concrete Words; not only thoſe derived from Accidents, as, Quantus, Quantity, Good from Goodneſs, White, Whiteneſs, &c. But alſo thoſe which are deriv'd from Subſtances; as, Clothed, Cloth, Armed, Arms, &c. And theſe, ſays the Philoſopher, Cap. 5. of the Categories, are predicated of the Subject Paronymouſly, that is, as to Name only, not Definition: Thoſe which according to Name and Definition, are by Ariſtotle in the ſame Place, ſaid to be Synonymouſly predicated. And ſo we come to define Caſes.
Ax. 8. Viz. thus, That they are Adverbs which are deduc'd from a Noun, or Verb of their own Conjugation.
1. §. As Benè from Bonus, that is, well from Good; Wiſely from ſapio or ſapere, that is, to be wiſe, &c. And in this Acceptation Ariſtotle takes the Word when he treats of Conjugates, Book 1. Top, Cap. 15. lib. 2. Cap. 9. lib. 6. Cap. 10. Otherwiſe Caſe with Ariſtotle, ſignifies a Certain Inflection or Termination of a Word different from its Original, as Muſa, from Muſae, &c. and ſo he takes it Cap. 2. of the Interp. as well as elſewhere.