Page:A Malayalam and English dictionary 1871.djvu/12

 different constructions in which the same word occurs (e. g. (അലങ്കരിക്ക), its various applications (e. g. അടങ്ങുക), allusions to the traditions and superstitions of the people (അടക്കം, അവസ്ഥ), standing phrases (ആട്ടം. അതുബുദ്ധി, അത്യാശ, അൻപു, അമ്പാഴം, അള) and proverbial expressions (cctq^o, (Srofzj^eYXj ^juI, (S^ ^003, (Crcofbo-j, (srcmjDtfo, (sraoBjlonl^ (STZ)^), these points have been es- pecially considered in selecting the illustrations. The Compounds and Derivatives are arranged under each leading word in alphabetical order, but are not treated at the length that appeared necessary in the case of the parent words. . The orthography of each word is Hxed at the head of the article which treats of it, but in the illustrations deviations are allowed, when they exhibit a current pronunciation (f.i. ctsr^s^scy, asr(DSa_^), or are borne out by the constant usage of some locality or caste (esrtjg^, csroa Q(b:6^)^ or when, as in the case of the numerous Tadbhavams, it is caused by the inequalities of the Sanscrit and Dravidian alphabets . It cannot be expected that the work should be compressed within the same compass as the Eev. Mr. Bailey's Dictionary. Not that the latter will always be found the more concise of the two. It is one of the chief defects of that, otherwise valuable, work, that it does not discriminate between Malayalam and Sanscrit terms and leaves the student completely in the dark, both as regards the ety- mology and the proportional importance of words. For it concedes to unknown and useless words (f.i. (Syss?c^oCo1, csirsg erno^o) as well as to those that are comparatively unimportant (as ^raTl, -^^.j) more space, than to words of the genuine native stock that occur frequently in idi- oms of daily current use (f.i. (Srz)§d66inr>ti, ^^^i^)- Ii^ consequence it will be found, that the Sanscrit part of the present work (see for instance the compounds with (®^ord— cg^q-j— csmal— ) occupies less space than was the case in the former Dictionary and this without any detriment to the subject matter. For the progress made in the study of Sanscrit subsequent to the appearance ofDr. Wilson's Diction- ary (on which the Sanscrit portion of Mr. Bailey's work is based) has enabled the writer to throw new light even on this part of his task.