Page:The plan of a dictionary of the English language - Samuel Johnson (1747).djvu/32

 explaining the general and popular language, it seems necessary to sort the several senses of each word, and to exhibit first its natural and primitive signification, as

To arrive, to reach the shore in a voyage. He arrived at a safe harbour.

to give its consequential meaning, to arrive, to reach any place whether by land or sea; as, he arrived at his country seat.

its metaphorical sense, to obtain any thing desired; as, he arrived at a peerage.

to mention any observation that arises from the comparison of one meaning with another; as, it may be remarked of the word arrive, that in consequence of its original and etymological sense, it cannot be properly applied but to words signifying some thing desirable; thus, we say a man arrived at happiness, but cannot say without a mixture of irony, he arrived at misery.

Ground, the earth, generally as opposed to the air or water. He swam till he reached ground. The bird fell to the ground.