On the origin and progress of language.

  • Burnet, James, Lord Monboddo.
Date:
1786
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: On the origin and progress of language. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by UCL Library Services. The original may be consulted at UCL (University College London)

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    fpeech in the fecond book, where he defires the devils, while he was away on the adven- ture which he had undertaken, to intend at home, while that fhould be their home, what beft might eafe their prefent mifery ;. where the word intend is ufed in its proper fignifi cation of bent or application to any thing i and in this fenfe the Latins fay, in- tendcieatiimmn. Whereas, in corrupt Latinity^ from which we have taken it, k fignifies to defign or project any thing*;, and in this fenfe we now ufe the word' intendr our words of Latin extraction being formed, as I have- obferved^ moftly from fuch Latmity* the word, being derived from the verb iripnu*. From thence it came naturally to flgnify what we call a fra- ceffion, as pomg.a funebris, that is, the attendants upon a funeral, walking in fuch order as to make a mow, and attracl attention; and from thence again, by a corrup- tion natural enough, it came to fignify mow, or often- tation of any kind. In this fenfe it is ufed, even by the Roman claffic writers; but Milton, who forms his- ftyle upon the Greek originals, and not upon the Latin imitations of them, has reflored the word to its proper- and etymological figniiication. To trace, in this way, the progrefs of words through their feveral ftages, makes a kind of hiltory of language, curious and entertaining-, enough* * * SeeDuCange'sGloflary, 9