Α

Of an ARTICLE*.

N Article is a Part of Speech

A Jet before Nouns to fix their

The

vague Signification: as, a Man, the Man; an, Houfe, the Houfe. Articles are, an, a, and the.

Of a NOUNt.

3. A Noun, or Subftantive, is the

Name of any Perfon, Place, or Thing: as, John, London, Honor, Goodness.

4. There are two Numbers: The Singular, which speaks of one; as, a Man. a Troop: and the Plural, which fpeaks of more than one; as, Men, Troops.

5. The Plural is ufually formed by addings to the Singular: as, Noun, Nouns; Verb, Verbs.

From the Latin Word Articulus, a Joint, or fmall Part.

From Nomen, a Name.

6. When

6. When the Singular ends in o, s, x, ch, or fh, the Plural is formed by adding the Syllable es: as, Cargo, Cargoes; Mifs, Miffes; Box, Boxes; Peach, Peaches; Brush, Brushes.

7. When the Singular ends in f, or fe, the Plural is formed by changing the f, or fe, into ves : as, Half, Halves; Life, Lives: except Dwarf, Grief, Hoof, &c. which takes only to make the Plural. Words that end in f make the Plural likewife by adding s only as, Muff, Muffs; Bailiff, Bailiffs; except Staff, which makes Staves.

8. When the Singular ends in y, or ey, the Plural is formed by changing the y, or ey, into ies; as, Lady, Ladies; Valley, Vallies: except Alley, Alleys ; Convoy, Convoys; Covey, Coveys.

9. Sometimes the Plural is formed by adding the Syllable en; as, Ox, Oxen fometimes by changing the Vowel; as, Man, Men: and fometimes by changing the Vowels and Confonants; as, Penny, Pence; Moufe, Mice. C 2 10. Some

10. Some few Words, coming immediately from the Hebrew, form the Pural by adding im, or in, to the Singular: as, Cherub, Cherubim, or Cherubin; Seraph, Seraphim, or Seraphin. Some from the Greek, ending in on, change the on into a: as, Phænomenon, Phænomena. Some, from the Latin in us, change the us into i: as, Radius, Radii; Magus, Magi.

11. Some Nouns have no Plural; as, Wheat, &c. others no Singular; as, Afbes, &c. and fome are the fame in both Numbers; as, Sheep, &c.

12. There are two Genders; the Mafculinet, and the Feminine‡.

13. The Mafculine denotes the Hekind: as, a Man; a Prince.

14. The Feminine denotes the Shekind: as, a Woman; a Princess.

*From Genus, a Sex or Kind. + From Mas, the Male-kind.' From Femina, a Woman.

15. Nouns

15. Nouns fignifying Things without Life, are properly of no Gender: as, a Pen; a Table.

16. By a common Figure in the English Tongue, the Sun is of the Mafculine; the Moon, the Church, Ships, and frequently Countries and Virtues, fuch as France, Spain, Faith, Hope, &c. are of the feminine Gender.

17. Here likewife it may be neceffary to obferve,