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tion is to connect the parts of a discourse together, and of an adverb to express some circumstances of an action, &c. yet, in some instances, the same word may seem to answer both these purposes; in which case it is not very material, whether we call it an adverb, or a conjunction.

CA

OF THE

ELLIPSIS.

ELLIPSIS, as applied to grammar, is the omission of some word or words which must be supplied, either to complete the sense, or to make out the grammatical construction of the sentence..

The principal design of ellipsis is to avoid disagreeable repetitions, as well as to express our ideas in as few words, and as pleasing a manner as possible.

In the application of this figure, great care should be taken to avoid ambiguity; for whenever it obscures the sense, it ought by no means to be admitted.

Almost all compound sentences are more or less elliptical.

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THE ELLIPSIS OF THE ARTICLE.

"A man, woman, and child; i. e. a man,

a woman, and a child.”

"A father and son.

"The day and hour."

The sun and moon.

In all which instances the article being once mentioned, the repetition of it, unless some peculiar emphasis requires it, would be unneces

sary.

"Not only the year, but the day, and the

❝ hour."

In this case the ellipsis of the last article would be rather improper.

THE ELLIPSIS OF THE NOUN.

"A learned, wise, and good man; i. e. a "learned man, a wise man, and a good man.”

"A prudent and faithful wife. The laws of "God and man. The safety and happiness of "the state."

In some very emphatical expressions the ellipsis should not be admitted; as, "Chirst the power of God, and the wisdom of God."

"At Saint Jameses.

"By Saint Paul's.”

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Here we have a noun in the genitive case, and no word in the sentence to govern it; the

ellipsis must therefore be supplied to make out the construction: and yet, in common conver66 I sation at least, it is much better to say, "went by Saint Paul's ;" than "I went by "Saint Paul's church."

THE ELLIPSIS OF THE ADJECTIVE.

"A delightful orchard and garden; i. e. a "delightful orchard and a delightful garden.” "A little man and woman. Great wealth

"and power."

In such elliptical expressions, the adjective ought to have exactly the same signification, and to be quite as proper, when joined to the latter as to the former substantives; otherwise the ellipsis should not be admitted.

Nor should we, I think, apply this ellipsis of the adjective to nouns of different numbers. "A magnificent house and gardens." Better use another word, "a magnificent house and "fine gardens"

"A tall man and a woman."

In this sentence there is no ellipsis ; the adjective or quality respects only the man.

THE ELLIPSIS OF THE PRONOUN.

"I love and fear him; i. e. I love him, and "I fear him."

"My house, and lands. Thy learning and "wisdom. His wife and daughter. Her lord "and master."

In all these instances the ellipsis may be introduced with propriety: but if we would be more express and emphatical, it must not be admitted.

"My Lord and my God. My sons and my "daughters."

"This is the man they hate. These are the "goods they bought. Are these the gods they 66 worship? Is this the woman you saw ?"

In such common forms of speech, the relative pronoun is usually omitted: though for the most part, especially in complex sentences, it is much better to have it expressed.

"In the posture I lay. In the way I went. "The horse I rode fell down."

Better say, "The posture in which I lay. "The way in which I went. The horse on " which I rode fell down."

The antecedent and the relative connect the parts of a sentence together, and should, to pre

vent confusion and obscurity, answer to each other with great exactness.

"We speak that we do know, and testify "that we have seen."

The ellipsis, in such instances, is manifestly improper let it therefore be supplied. "We "speak that which we do know, and testify "that which we have seen."

The relative, what, in the neuter gender, seems to include both the antecedent and the relative. This is what you speak of; i. e. "the thing which you speak of."

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THE ELLIPSIS OF THE VERB.

"The man was old and crafty; i. e. the man was old, and the man was crafty."

"She is young, and rich, and beautiful, "Thou art poor, and wretched, and miserable, “ and blind, and naked.”

But if we would, in such enumerations, point out one property above the rest, let that property be put last, and the ellipsis supplied. "She is young and beautiful, and she is rich." "I recommend the father and son. We s "the town and country. He rewarded the 66 women and children."

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