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merely not to approach. We shun what we dislike, or what we think is likely to do us harm. We avoid what may do us harm. We should shun vice; that is, we should turn away from it. We should avoid bad habits; that is, we should take care not to acquire them. Fear or dislike prompts us to shun. Prudence induces us to avoid.

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Exercise.

Having thoroughly considered the nature of this passion, I have made it my duty to study how to

may accrue to me from these my speculations.”

the envy that

"Of many things, some few I shall explain :

Teach thee to

the dangers of the main ;

And how at length the promised shore to gain.”

"Let no man make himself the confidant of the foibles of a beloved companion, lest he find himself

of his heart."

by the friend

"Here he fell into vicious habits, and associated with such low companions, that his society was soon

respectable person."

"Prudence will enable us to

which we are daily exposed."

by every

many of the evils to

I thought I perceived him at some distance from me; but,

as if dreading an interview, on my approaching him, he

me, and mixed with the crowd.

It is wise and prudent to do what is commanded, and what is forbidden by those whose authority we acknowledge.

To weaken-to invalidate.

What is weakened is made weak; though not, of necessity, previously strong. What is invalidated

Thus these

has some of its strength taken away. terms are as positive and negative. In the first case, we add weakness; in the second, we take away strength. An argument of but little strength may be weakened. A strong argument may be invalidated. We weaken the force of an argument by an injudicious application. We invalidate a claim by proving its informality. To weaken, is applied both to things and persons: to invalidate, to things only.

Exercise.

"No article of faith can be true which

part of religion."

"Do the Jacobins mean to

the practical

that great body of our

statute law which passed under those whom they treat as

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the disease, that it was greatly feared at one time that he would not survive.

It was necessary to apply stimulants in order to obviate the

This statement completely

-ing effect of the medicines he had previously taken. the argument just adduced by the defendant's counsel, and the verdict was consequently given against him.

A continual indulgence in frivolous pursuits, and the habit of associating with silly companions, cannot fail to

character.

the

SECTION V.

MISCELLANEOUS SYNONYMES.

THERE are many cases in which it is extremely difficult to discover any principle by which the differences of words can be accounted for. Though, as we have already shown, it is very possible to form, to a certain extent, a classification of differences, by referring them, in different cases, to a distinct principle; there are many pairs of words whose difference does not appear to depend on any uniformly directing principle, but seems the result of a mere caprice of language. These cases baffle all attempts at classifying, and we must, therefore, be content to comsider them under the head of "Miscellaneous." Here it will be found that a different cause operates in each single pair, so that we shall learn nothing more than the explanation of the difference in each individual case, and this explanation will suggest no certain rule in other cases of difficulty. But when we consider the subtle nature of the human mind, and the almost infinite variety of shades and forms which language assumes, we shall not be surprised at this difficulty. Some tinge of colouring, some almost imperceptible shade, will be found to exist

in one, which does not belong to the other, and this so capricious, and so infinitely various, that it is impossible to classify such words, or collect those among them in which any one principle is found to act uniformly. The following synonymes are of this nature, for the study of which the learner is referred to the explanations under each pair.

Accent-Emphasis.

An accent is a stress or leaning of the voice on certain syllables in every word, by which those syllables are more vigorously uttered than others. An emphasis is a stress of the voice on certain words, by which those words are prominently distinguished in a sentence. pronunciation of a word; meaning of the sentence.

Accent respects the emphasis respects the To pronounce the word

náture with the strain on the second syllable (thus, nature) would be a fault of accent. To give the same force to every word in a sentence, is to read without emphasis.

Exercise.

In the time of the Commonwealth, the

of many

words in the English language was unfixed. In the "Paradise

Lost" of Milton, several words are found with an

ferent from that with which they are now pronounced.

dif

In every sentence, there are certain words which require a

greater stress of the voice in reading than others. This stress He who reads without

is called in grammar

reads monotonously.

Foreigners are very liable to make faults of

nouncing our language.

in pro

It is very difficult, if not impossible, to pronounce a dissyllable without placing a stronger

on one than on

the other of the two syllables. Laying a strong another inquiring look of significance, the stranger quitted the room, leaving me in a state of confusion and conjecture, which may be more easily imagined than described.

on these last words, and giving me

"Those English syllables which I call long ones receive a peculiar stress of voice from their acute or circumflex as in quickly, dowry."

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not so much regards the tone, as a certain grandeur, whereby some word or sentence is rendered more remarkable than the rest by a more vigorous pronunciation, and a longer stay upon it."

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The difference between an address and a direction is, that an address comprises the name of the person directed to, as well as the place at which he or she resides. A direction signifies no more than the specification of a certain place. The form of an address might be, Mr. John Smith, 19, Georgestreet, Cornwall-square. If I am told to address a letter to the above Mr. Smith, I write down this form; but if some one ask me Mr. Smith's direction, I answer by specifying the place in which he lives; viz. 19, George-street, Cornwall-square. An ad

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