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10.

Propriety means "the use of words which convey exactly the idea of the writer, or speaker." Hence—

RULE I. The use of equivocal, or ambiguous words must be avoided; as, brothers and brethren; the former of which is applied to sons of the same parents, and the latter is used for fellow

men.

RULE II.-Words nearly similar in meaning should not be easily confounded; as, apparent for certain or manifest; and so likewise, other synonyms which we will mention here below.

RULE III. Unnecessary and inappropriate expletives should be avoided; such as "mighty little" "wretched small;" "tremendously great."

11. Precision means, "the retrenchment of all superfluous words." Hence

RULE I-Avoid the injudicious use of synonyms, by multiplying, without necessity, words which are different in sound, and similar in signification.

(10.) What does propriety of language mean?

Give the first-second-third rule of propriety.

(11.) What does precision of language mean? Mention the first rule for obtaining precision.

Here is a list of English synonyms, the exact meaning of which the student must ascertain, by means of a good dictionary :

"Abhor, and detest-abandon, forsake, relinquish, give up-desert, quit, and leave-adjacent, and contiguous―alleviate, and lessen-aver, assert, and declare-avow, acknowledge, and confess-austerity, severity, and rigor-authentic, and genuine-capacity, and ability-custom, and habit-desist, renounce, quit, and leave off-difficulty, and obstacle-distinguish, and separate enough, and sufficient-entire, and complete-equivocal, and ambiguous-haughtiness, and disdain-invent, and discover-only, and alonepride, and vanity-reformation, and reform-remark, and observe-surprised, astonished, amazed, and confounded—tranquility, peace, and calm-wisdom, and prudence-sole, and only-over, and besides, etc."

RULE II. Except for the sake of emphasis, or exclamation; or for fixing deeper an idea in the mind of hearer, or reader; the same word should not be repeated; and all meaningless words should be absolutely expunged from composition.

12. Nothing is more conducive to the acquirement of purity and propriety of language, than

Give some examples of English synonyms.

What is the second rule with regard to precision?

(12.) What will greatly assist to acquire purity and propriety of language?

the constant perusal of an excellent dictionary, such as Webster's. A writer must have a clear idea of the exact import of every word; and this cannot be obtained, except by the assiduous use of the dictionary. No exercise is more profitable to a scholar, than to write often on a black-board, and define a certain number of words contained in the dictionary; to be selected and assigned as a lesson, by the teacher.

I.-EXERCISE.

Prepare yourself well, with the assistance of the dictionary, to define and show the difference of each synonym contained in the above list.

II. EXERCISE.

Find other synonyms, and define them likewise.

III-EXERCISE.

Read a passage, or composition of some writer; and examine the clearness, strength, purity, propriety and precision of language.

If any violation of the rules occurs, point it out, and quote the rule.

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Write on the board either a part, or the whole of your composition; and show how you have

Is it necessary that a writer should fully understand the exact import of every word?

What exercise is very useful to a scholar?

observed the same qualities of language, by citing each rule; or else, let another pupil criticise it by the rules.

SECTION III.

OF THE ENGLISH VERSE; AND OF THE MODERN ENGLISH AND AMERICAN LITERATURE.

1. The subject of English versification is amply expounded in English grammars and books of elocution, to which it properly belongs. To them, therefore, we must refer the scholar; and here we shall content ourselves by only giving it a brief notice.

2.

Versification is the art of writing in verse.

3. Verse, from the Latin versus, a furrow, signifies a line in writing; and applied to poetry, it means a line consisting of a certain number of long and short syllables, arranged according to metrical rules.

Verses are of various kinds; as, hexameter, of six feet; pentameter, of five; tetrameter, of four feet, etc.; according to the number of feet in each.

(1.) In what books is the subject of versification amply ex(2.) What is versification? [pounded?

(3.) Whence is the word verse derived?

What does it mean as applied to poetry? (4.) What are the principal kinds of verse?

5. A foot is a metrical element of a verse, consisting of a certain combination of syllables, distinguished formerly by their quantity or length; and in modern poetry by the accent.

6. The principal English feet are, the Iambus, consisting of a short and long syllable; as, be-tray; the Trochee, consisting of a long and short syllable; as, hate-ful; the Anapest, consisting of two short syllables and a long one; as, con-tra-vene; the Dactyl, consisting of a long syllable and two short ones; as, pos-si-ble.

7. Whence, four principal kinds of verse or poetic measure arise, viz: the Iambic, Trochaic, Anapestic, and Dactylic.

S. Verse is again divided into Rhymic and Blank.

9. Rhymic Verse is that which has a rhyme. Rhyme is a similarity of sound in the terminating words or syllables of two, and sometimes more verses, succeeding each other immediately, or at no great distance.

(5.) What is a metrical foot?

(6.) What are the principal metrical feet in English?

(7.) Name the principal classes, or divisions of English verse, derived from the metrical division?

(8.) Give another division.

(9.) What is rhymic verse?

What is a rhyme?

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