an opinion I had formed
early in life of the purest source of neology, which is in the _revival
of old words_.

Words that wise Bacon or brave Rawleigh spake!

We have lost many exquisite and picturesque expressions through the
dulness of our lexicographers, or by the deficiency in that profounder
study of our writers which their labours require far more than they
themselves know. The natural graces of our language have been
impoverished. The genius that throws its prophetic eye over the
language, and the taste that must come from Heaven, no lexicographer
imagines are required to accompany him amidst a library of old books!

FOOTNOTES:

[19] Aulus Gellius, lib. i. c. 10.

[20] Instit. lib. i. c. 5.

[21] This verse was corrected by Bentley _procudere nummum_, instead
of _producere nomen_, which the critics agree is one of his happy
conjectures.

[22] Henry Cockeram's curious little "English Dictionarie, or an
Interpretation of hard English words", 12mo, 1631, professes to give
in its first book "the choicest words themselves now in use,
wherewith our language is inriched and become so copious." Many have
not survived, such as the following:--

Acyrologicall An improper speech.
Adacted Driven in by force.
Blandiloquy Flattering speech.
Compaginate To set together that which is broken.
Concessation Loytering.
Delitigate To scold, or chide vehemently.
Depalmate To give one a box on the ear.
Esuriate To hunger.
Strenuitie Activity.

Curiously enough, this author notes some words as those "now out of
use, and onely used of some ancient writers," but which we now
commonly use. Such are the following:--

Abandon To forsake or cast off.
Abate To make lesse, diminish, or take from.

[23] A most striking instance of the change of meaning in a word is
in the old law-term _let_--"without _let_ or hindrance;" meaning
void of all opposition. Hence, "I will _let_ you," meant "I will
hinder you;" and not as we should now think, "I will give you free
leave."

[24] Shakspeare makes "Ancient Pistol" use a new-coined Italian
word, when he speaks of being "better accommodated;" to the great
delight of Justice Shallow, who exclaims, "It comes from
_accommodo_--a good phrase!" And Ben Jonson, in his "Tale of