Latin, and a prodigious number of words, in various tongues, are to be properly explained only in the same way. "to 266. "To air clothes;"" to air a room," is to expose them to the air. A person takes an airing, to air and exercise himself, promote health and preserve life. They are, is, with precisely the same meaning, they air themselves; they breathe the air; "Vitales aures carpere;" they light themselves; they behold, inhale, and enjoy the light; they live. Light, life, and live, are but the modifications of the same word. So close is the relation, in speech, as well as in nature, between air and light, that the words denoting them are often substituted for each other. The German luft, light, is generally, and the Dutch lucht, habitually, used for air, the atmosphere. "To enjoy the light," appears to be an idiom as extensive as language itself, and under all its applications, signifies to live, or exist. "Il jouit encore de la luminere et attend que son fils revienne pour lui fermer les yeux.”—*Telemaque. Here is the double application of the idea in a short sentence, "But soon a wonder came to light." Dr. Goldsmith. Came into being, for it had no existence before. 66 In every German, book of biography, in every family, to see the light," means to come into life ; to be born. The "breath of life," "the vital air," and many similar expressions, are familiar to all. *"He still enjoys the light, and is waiting for his son to return to close his eyes." 266. The collateral meanings of air and light, all center in the same point. Light, not heavy, is like the air; or like Adam's sleep, which, Milton says, was airy light." Air, aspect, appearance. A lady has a pleasing air that is, the light, the point of light, in which she appears, is pleasing. An other assumes affected airs, to exhibit herself in the most striking light, to attract attention. Lights, lungs, inhale the light or air. Air, in music, is a modern and scientific application of the term. It means the tremulous vibrations of the air on the tympans of the ear. Let it not be supposed that this is idle theory. It is supported by an astonishing body of facts, from numerous tongues, through thousands of years, showing the original structure and present meaning of the verb are, in a manner simple as the patriarchs, for whose early use it was formed, and clear as the light which it so expressively represents. 267. The different relations in which the same idea may be viewed, are manifested in this verb, as in so many other terms. The guest lights himself, or the servant lights him to his room ; which means, to carry the sensible light before him. "Thais led the way, to light him to his prey "Enlighten our hearts ;” cause the “candle of the Lord;" the enlivening influence of heavenly wisdom, to quicken, vivify, and animate our hearts in the love of divine truth. 268. Some very important principles, illustrative of the human intellect, and of language, which is its practical exposition, are to be sought chiefly among a savage people. The untutored children of the wilderness may instruct philosophers in the deepest sciences which can employ the mind, or adorn the most refined community. There is nothing more interesting to man, than to contemplate his own species, in all their variety: to reflect, that whether enlightened or ignorant, mild or ferocious; fainting under the vertical sun, or half naked in the wintry blast; however degraded by circumstance, or perverted by error; these members of the human family are of our own nature, and a kindred blood. In common with ourselves, they inherit from their Creator the distinguishing gifts of reason and speech; hearts to feel; tears for wo; and souls for immortality. It is in comparing the minds of different people, as exhibited in their varying conditions, habits, and language, that the errors of the schools are corrected. Among all the Indian tribes of North America, there is no separate word for air. To them, as to the ancient nations, the darkness and the light are the visible substances, which alternately come and go. They feel the breeze, and apply the noun to it as wind; but air, at rest, is neither seen nor felt. Of this, they have no distinct conception; and, consequently, no name. 269. An allusion has been made to the diversified changes of an important original term. The words signifying the Deity, man, or being in general, are very much used in combination. An exemplification of this is contained in the form of the oath administered, in the eighth century, to the German Saxons, on their renunciation of heathenism, and profession of Christianity, as quoted by F. Schlegel, from an ancient record at Vienna. "I renounce all the words and works of the Devil, Thun-aer [that is, the God of Thunder, or Thor,] and Woden, and Saxon Odin, and all the unholy that are their kindred." This syllable aer, and its branching forms and meanings, acquire an extent in language entirely beyond the conception of those who have not paid particular attention to the subject. From the evanescent nature of vocal sounds, and the unavoidable fluctuation in human affairs, the variations necessarily produced in applying the elements of speech, soon transcend the powers of the strongest intellect, and render man a stranger to his own species. WERE. 270. This is the form of the verb to be, next in order of importance in the present use of this irregular auxiliary. John i. 1. "In the beginning was the WORD, and the WORD was with God, and the WORD was God." Ἐν ἀρχῇ ἦν ὁ ΛΟΓΟΣ, * ὁ ΛΟΓΟΣ ἦν πρὸς τὸν Θεὸν, καὶ Θεὸς ἦν ὁ ΛΟΓΟΣ. In principio erat VERBUM, et VERBUM erat apud Deum, et Deus erat VERBUM. Dutch Verb, Worden, to be. Indic. present. Ik word, gy wordt, hy wordt, wy worden, gy wordt, zy worden. we are, you are, they are Past tense. Eden Ik wierd, gy wierdt, he wierd, wy wierden, gy wierdt, zy wier I was, thou wast, he was, we were, GERMAN. you were, they were Ich war, du warest, er war, wir waren, ihr waret, sie waren Imperative. Word, be. Participles. wordende, being geworden, been German verb, Werden, to be, to become, begin to be, or come into a state or condition of existence. Indicative present. Ich werde, du wirst, er wird, wir werden, ihr werdet, sie werden Ich wurde, du wurdest, er wurde, wir wurden, ihr wurdet, sie or ward or wardst or ward [wurden 271, As aur is a primary word in Hebrew, and its cognate languages, so word, weord, waurd, is one of the radicals, first in order and importance, in Teutonic and its various dialects. It is a prevailing term in German, Dutch, Swedish, Danish, Icelandic, and other branches of the parent stock, from which it comes to us through the Anglo-Saxon. The nice distinction between aur and word, is, that as the first, in its strict and original meaning, denoted light, so the other primarily signified life, being, the vital principle, as perceived in its obvious effects, existing in animal bodies. It was seen to vivify the natural world, and the idea was irresistibly associated with the Prime and all-pervading Cause of vitality. It has been subsequently and more popularly applied, to express whatever is, or |