Hand-Book of the Engrafted Words of the English Language, Embracing the Choice Gothic, Celtic, French, Latin, and Greek Words on the Basis of the Hand-Book of the Anglo-Saxon Root-Words

ISBN: 9781330648063 出版年：2016 页码：358 Forgotten Books

Latin and Greek, is of great importance. A few words from this source were received in connection with the conquest of Britain by Caesar, 65 B. C. During the Christian anglo-saxon monarchs, many words were introduced. These referred to the affairs of the Church. A great accession took place at the revival of learning, or about the time of Henry the Eighth. Since this period, the learned have swelled the number to thousands. The work is still progressing. Classic words seem to have a charm for educated mind. Looking over the words from this source, we find that they refer to religion, law, arts, and sciences. These are the main elements of our language. Gentlemen, would you ask why we should study them? Why? Oh, it is pleasant to know our ancestry! It must be agreeable to be made acquainted with exotic words as well as exotic plants! Such knowledge is valuable. It is history and philosophy. Words are records, and form the true history of a people — their autobiography. Words are philosophy. Inquiring into their origin, uses, and changes, we see the visible workings of the soul: we trace the progress of a people in knowledge, manners, and the duties of life. More than this: studying them in groups under the leading divisions of thought, we have an Opportunity of seeing the character and civilization of the anglo-saxon, Gothic, Celtic, French, and Classic nations. Language is not made, but grows. The heart of a people is its mother-tongue.