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Rh making a reference to the place where the modified signification will be found. But in order to prevent needless extension, I have, in general, omitted conjugate words, which are so obviously derivable from those that are given in the same place, that the reader may safely be left to form them for himself. This is the case with adverbs derived from adjectives by the simple addition of the terminal syllable -ly ; such as closely, carefully, safely, &c., from close, careful, safe, &c., and also with adjectives or participles immediately derived from the verbs which are already given. In all such cases, an ' &c.' indicates that reference is understood to be made to these i-oots.ij: I have observed the same rule in compiling the Index ; retaining only the primary or more simple word, and omitting the conjugate words obviously derived from them. Thus I assume the word shan't as the representative of its immediate derivatives shortness, shorten, shortening, shortened, shorter, shortly, which would have had the same references, and which the reader can readily supply.

The same verb is frequently used indiscriminately either in the active or transitive, or in the neuter or intransitive sense. In these cases, I have generally not thought it worth while to increase the bulk of the Work by the needless repetition of that word ; for the reader, whom I suppose to understand the use of the words, must also be presumed to be competent to apply them correctly.

There are a multitude of words of a specific character which, although they properly occupy places in the columns of a dictionary, yet, having no relation to general ideas, do not come within the scope of this compilation, and are consequently omitted. The names of objects in Natural History, and technical terms belonging exclusively to Science or to Art, or relating to particular operations, and of which the signification is restricted to those specific objects, come under this category. Exceptions must, however, be made in favour of such words as admit of metaphorical application to general subjects, with which custom has associated