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Artium Magister, Master of Arts; M. D. Medicine Doctor; L. L. D. Legum Doctor; N. B. Nota Bene, &c.

Sometimes a small letter or two is added to the capital; as, Etc. Et cetera; Ap. Appius; Cn. Cneius; Op. Opiter; Sp. Spurius; Ti. Tiberius; Sex. Sextus; Cos. Consul; Coss. Consules; Imp. Imperator; Impp. Imperatores.

In like manner. in English, Esq. Esquire; Dr. Debtor or Doctor; Acct. Account; MS. Manuscript; MSS. Manuscripts; Do. Ditto; Rt. Hon. Right Honourable, &c.

Small letters are likewise often put as abbreviations of a word; as, i. e. idest; h. e. hoc est ; e. g. exempli gratiâ; v. z. verbi gratiâ.

Capitals were used by the ancient Romans, to mark numbers. The Letters employed for this purpose were C. I. L. V. X. which are therefore called Numerical Letters. I. denotes one, V. five, X, ten, L. fifty, and C. a hundred. By the various combinations of these five letters, all the different numbers are expressed.

The repetition of a numerical letter repeats its value. Thus, II. signi fies two; III. three; XX. twenty; XXX. thirty; CC. two hundred, &c. But V. and L. are never repeated.

When a letter of a less value is placed before a letter of a greater, the less takes away what it stands for from the greater; but being placed after, adds what it stands for to the greater; thus,

IV. Four.

IX. Nine.

V. Five.

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VI. Six.
XI. Eleven.

LX. Sixty.

XL. Forty.

XC. Ninety.

CX. A hundred and ten.

A thousand is marked thus, cra which in later times was contracted into M. Five hundred is marked thus, 15. or by contraction, D.

The annexing of o to 15. makes its value ten times greater; thus, 13p. marks five thousand; and 1335. fifty thousand.

The prefixing of c, together with the annexing of a to the number of CI). makes its value ten times greater; thus, CCI. denotes ten thousand; and ccc1995. a hundred thousand. The ancient Romans, according to Pliny, proceeded no farther in this method of notation. If they had occasion to express a larger number they did it by repetition; thus, cccrɔɔɔ, ccc1335. signified two hundred thousand, &c.

We sometimes find thousands expressed by a straight line drawn over the top of the numerical letters. Thus, . denotes three thousand; thousand.

ten

But the modern manner of marking numbers is much more simple, by these ten characters or figures, which from the ten fingers of the hands were called Digits; 1 one, 2 two, S three, four, 5 five, 6 six, 7 seven, 8 eight, 9 nine, O nought, nothing. The first nine are called Significant figures. The last is called a Cypher.

Significant figures placed after one another increase their value ten times at every remove from the right hand to the left; thus,

8 Eight. 85 Eighty-five. 856 Eight hundred and fifty-six. 8566 Eight thousand five hundred and sixty-six.

When cyphers are placed at the right hand of a significant figure, each cypher increases the value of the figure ten times; thus,

1 One. 10 Ten. 100 A hundred. 1000 A thousand. 2 Two. 20 Twenty. 200 Two hundred. 2000 Two thousand.

Cyphers are often intermixed with significant figures, thus, 20202, Twenty thousand two hundred and two.

The superiority of the present method of marking numbers over that of the Romans, will appear by expressing the present year both in letters and figures, and comparing them together; C15,10CCXCVIII, or .,DCCXCVIII. 1798

As the Roman manner of marking the days of their months was quite different from ours, it may perhaps be of use here to give a short account of it.

Division of the Roman Months.

The Romans divided their months in three parts, by Kalends, Nones, and Ides. The first day of every month was called the Kalends; the fifth day was called the Nones; and the thirteenth day was called the Ides; except in the months of March, May, July, and October, in which the nones fell upon the seventh day, and the ides on the fifteenth.

In reckoning the days of their months, they counted backwards. Thus, the first day of January was marked Kalendis Januariis, or Januarii, or by contraction, Kal. Jan. The last day of December, Pridie Kalendas Januarias or Januarii, scil. ante. The day before that, or the 30th day of December, Tertio Kal. Jan. scil: die ante; or Ante diem tertium Kal. Jan. The twenty-ninth day of December, Quarto Kal. Jan. And so on, till they came back to the thirteenth day of December, or to the ides, which were marked Idibus Decembribus, or Decembris: the day before the ides, Pridie Idus Dec. scil. ante: the day before that, Tertio Id. Dec. and so back to the nones, or the fifth day of the month, which was marked Nonis Decembribus or Decembris: the day before the nones, Pridie Non Dec. &c. and thus through all the months of the year.

In Leap-year, that is, when February has twenty-nine days, which hap. pens every fourth year, both the 24th and the 25th days of that month were marked, Sexto Kalendas Martii or Martias; and hence this year is called Bissextilis.

JUNIUS, APRILIS, SEPTEMque, NOVEMque tricenos;
Unum plus reliqui; FEBRUUS tenet orto viginti;

At si bissex.us fuerit, superadditur unus.

Tu primam mensis lucem dic esse kalendas.

Sex MAIUS. nonas OCTOBER, JULIUS, et MARS,
Quatuor at reliqui: dabit idus quilibet octo.

Omnes post idus luces dic esse kalendas,
Nomen sortiri debent a mense sequenti.

The

Thus, the 14th day of April, June, September, and October, was marked XVIII. Kal. of the following month; the 15th, XVII. Kal. &c. 14th day of January, August, and December, XIX. Kal. &c. So the 16th day of March, May, July, and October, was marked XVII. Kal. &c. And the 14th day of February, XVI. Kal. Martii or Martias. The names of all the months are used as Substantives or Adjectives, except Aprilis, which is used only as a Substantive.

APPENDIX II.

Containing Rules from Ruddiman's Grammar, which will be found ex plained in the Pages of this Book that are marked before each Rule.

I. Concerning the GENDER of NOUNS.

Names of Trees. See page 10.

1. Arbor femineis dabitur: sed mas oleaster,
Et rhamnus: petit hic potiùs, cytisusque rubusque :
Hic quandoque larix, lotus volet, atque cupressus :
Hoc quod in um, suberque, siler dant, rober acerque.

Nouns in A of the first declension. p. 11. and 14.
9. Hæc dat A quod primæ est : sed neutrum Pascha requirit,
Hadria mas æquor, pariterque cometa, planeta:
Mascula & interdum talpam damamque videbis.

Nouns in US and OS. p. 20. 28. and 35.
4. Hæc domus & vannus, pro fructu ficus & alvus ;
Sic humus atque manus, poscunt: acus addito quarte,
Porticus atque tribus. Capit hoc virus pelagusque.
Nomen in OS Græcum, quod in US mutare Latini
Sæpè solent, normam sequitur plerumque virilem:
Femineum sed multa petunt: ut abyssus, eremus,
Antidotusque, pharus, dialectus, carbasus: adde
Ex odos & phthongos genitum, quæque à generali
Voce genus plantæ & gemmæ capiunt muliebre.
JHic aut hæc donat balanus, specus, atque phaselus,
Barbitus, atque penus, grossus: sed grus, atomusque
Femineum potiùs cupiunt; colus adde, virile
Quod rarò invenies: muliebre at contrà camelus
Est ubi nonnunquam videas. Vult hic dare vulgus,
Sed magis hoc. Terne specus & penus addito neutris.
Nouns of the third declension in O. p. 23.
7. Hic dat 0: femineis halo cum caro dantur & echo;
Quæque in IO, seu sint verbo, seu nomine nata,
Rem (numeris demptis) aliquam sine corpore signant.
Adjice femineis DO, GO: sed mascula cudo,
Harpago sic ordo, simul udo, tendo, ligoque,
Rariùs hæc margo, vati est, hic sæpe cupido,
Arrhabo eum cardo, muliebria vix imitanda.

C' and L. p. 24. rule S.
9. Quod fit in L, vel T, C, vel M, neutralibus adde x
Mascula sol, mugil, seu sal, quod rarius hoc vult.

N. p. 24. rule 4.

10. Masculeum capit N.

Finita in MEN dato neutris,

Quæque secunda creat, cum gluten & inguen & ung uen,
Addideris pollen. Sindon petit hæc & aedon;
Alcyonem junges, data postea queis comes icon.

AR and UR. p. 25. rule 5.

11. Postulat AR neutrum sed masculeum salar optat. Hoc dat UR. Hic furfur capiet, cum vulture turtur.

ER and OR. p. 25. rule 6.

13. ER capit hic. Neutrum plante fructusve requirunt :
At tuber hic fructus; tuber quemcunque tumorein
Significans neutrale petit; cumque ubere spinther,
Verque cadaver, iter. Dabit hic aut hæc tibi linter.

Hie dat OR. Hæc arbor: cor, adorque hoc, marmor & æquor.
AS. p. 26. rule 7.

15. AS petit hæc. Neutrum est vas, vasis, queisque Pelasgi "Dant atis in patrio: quibus antis masculo sunto.

ES. p. 26. rule 8.

16. Hæc dabit ES. Capient ales hic hæcve, palumdes,
Atque dies: sed mas proles: mas poples & ames,
Fomes, pes, paries, palmes, cum limite stipes,
Queis addes trames, termes, cum gurgite cespes;
Et quæ fonte fluunt Graio; sed neutra capessunt
Hippomanes, panaces, nepenthes, sic cacoethes.
IS. p. 27. rule 9.

17. IS dabo femineis. Sunt mascula piscis & axis,
Glis, callis, vermis, vectis, mensis, cucumisque.
Mugilis & postis cum sanguine fascis & orbis,
Fustis item collis, caulisque, & follis & ensis,
Serpentemque notans cenchris, cum vomere, torris,
In NIS finitum Latium, lapis, unguis, aqualis.
Hic aut hæc finis, clunis, cum torque canalis,
Dant scrobis, ac anguis: corbis muliebre præoptat;
Masculeo potiùs gaudent pulvis, cinis, amnis.

OS. p. 28. rule 10.

19. OS maribus detur. Sunt neutra chaos, melos, os, os,
Postulat haec arbos, cos, des, & origine Græcâ
Orta eos, arctos, perimetros cum diametro.

US. p. 29. rule 11.

20. Postulat US neutrum, quoties id tertia flectit.
Femineum voluere palus, subscusque salusque,
Qurque senex, juvenis, cum servio, nomina formant,
Et Virtus, incus. At mascula sunt lepus & mus,
Et pus compositum: petit at muliebre lagopus.

ES and AUS. p. 29. rule 13. 21. ES neutrale petit: laus, fraus, muliebria sunto.

S with a consonant before it. p. 29. rule 14,

22. S dato femineis, si consona ponitur ante.

Mascula sed pons, fons, mons, seps, dum denotat anguem;
Et queis P prit S polysyllaba forcipe dempto,

Densque, chalybs, cum gryphe, rudens, quod rariùs hæc vult.
Hic aut hæc serpens dat. scrobs, stirps truncus adepsque.
Dans animans genus omne, tamen muliebre præoptat.

X. p. 30. rule 16.

23. Hæc petit X. Ax, ex maribus polysyllaba junge :
Dic tamen hæc fornax, smilax, carex, velut halex,
Et cum prole panax & forfex atque supellex.
Mascula sunto calix, phenix, pro vermeque bombyx,
Et coccyx, fornix, & onyx vas, aut lapis unde
Vas fit; oryx, tradux, grex his adjunge calyxque.
Femineo interdum data tradux cum grege cernes.
Hee modò femineis, maribus modo juncta videbis ;
Calx pro parte pedis metâve laboris & hystrix,

Imbrex; sardonychem jungas, rumicem silicemque :
Hic magè vult cortex & obex, cum pumice, varex :
Hec potiùs limax, lynx, & cum sandice perdix:
Atriplici neutrum meliùs dabo quàm mul ebre.

II. RULES concerning the OBLIQUE CASES.

The Accusative Singular of the Third Declension. p. 32.
Einit in EM quartus. Petit im sibi ravis, amussis,
Vis cucumisque simul, tussis, sitis atque sinapis,
Cannabis & gummis, buris, conjunge mephitim.
Adde urbes, aliosque locos, amnesque, deosque,
IS quibus est recto: sed & hæc dant in quoque quarto.
Sæpiùs im, turris, puppis, cum reste securis :
Em, sed & im quandoque, volunt sibi febris aqualis,
Et navis, pelvis, clavis; sic lens, strigilisque,
Sementisque, cutis. Cumulant his plura vetusti.
Impurè in patrio casu crescentia Græca,

Sæpe & Tros, Minos, heros, quartum per a formant :
EUS ea vult. Vix em dato Pan, cumque æthere delphin.

Ablative Singular. p. 32.

Sextus e vult: quibus at rectus per E clauditur i dant,
(Propria ni fuerint ) AL & AR neutralia junge.
Deme jubar, sal, far, par fixum nectar & hepar,
Sed solet has leges migrare licentia vatum.
I quoque dant in & im tantum facientia quarto.
Cannabis at Betis, Tigris, voluistis utrumque.
I'm quibus in quarto est, ye dant, aut m modo demunt.
Dant e vel i sexto, queis quartus in em vel in im fit.
Excipe sed restis, quod e semper, cum cute, donat.
I magè sementis, strigilis petit atque securis.
Quod simul im vel idem format, capit i sibi rarò.

Hæc quoque dant e vel i: finis, eum rure supellex,
Occiput & vectis: per UBI cum quæritur, urbes,
Et pugil & mugil, jungas. Per e sepiùs effer,
I raro, civis, classis, sors, anguis & imber,
Unguis, avis, postis, fustis, simul amnis & ignis.
Usus plura tulit priscus, quæ respuit ætas
Cultior. I tantum sexto retineto canalis.

Genitive Plural. p. 33.

Prabet ium patrius, si sextus in i fuit antè.

Tolle vigil, vetus, uber, inops, supplexque, memorque,
Mugilis & consors, quibus & pugil & celer adde;

Atque gradus medios; (sed ium plus poscit.) Adhærent
His composta genus, capio, facioque caputque.

Sextus e si tantum dederit, capit um genitivus.

AS sed ium Latiale petit polysyllaba deme,

:

Queis magis um placuit. Sed ium quærentibus adde

Nomen in IS vel in ES non crescens: jungito & NS:

Tolle parens, vates, panis, juvenisque, canisque.

Donat ium Samnis, linter, caro, dos, & es ossis,

Glis, nix, noxque, cohors, mus, faux, uter: adde Quiritem, Atque larom, litem, cotem, cor; compositumque

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