Page:The Sources of Standard English.djvu/56

Rh Bûtan and binnan (in Latin, extra et intra) still linger in the Scotch Lowlands; as in the old Perth ballad of Cromwell's time: —

When Oliver's men Cam but and ben.

Anent, which of old was on-efn, is preserved in the same district; and this most useful word seems to be coming into use among our best writers once more. But gelang (the Latin per) is now used only by the poor; as in ‘it is all along of you.’ We sometimes hear the old onforan as afore, and ongêan sounded as again, not the corrupt against. Tô is still used in America in one of its old senses, where we degenerate English should use at; we find in the Beowulf sêcean tô Heorote, seek at Heorote. The old Northumbrian til is employed in the North, where we say to.

I now give a few instances, where we still use Prepo&shy;sitions in the true Old English sense, though very sparingly. To do one's duty by a man; to receive at his hands; for all his prayers, i.e. in spite of; to go a hunting, which of old was written, gân on huntunge; eaten of worms (by is very seldom used before the Con&shy;quest in this sense of agency); we have Abraham to our father; made after his likeness; to get them under arms. Our best writers should never let these old phrases die out; we have already lost enough and too much of the good old English.

Sum man used to stand either for quidam or for aliquis; we can now only use it in the latter sense. The Indefinite Article may be seen in Matt. xxi. 28, ân