The Cadiz Democratic sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 1854-1864, 1862-07-16
For the Sentinel.
SCIENTIFIC,
Grammatical BIunders.


"A proper noun is the name ofan individ-
nal object; as, James, Erie.
"a common noun IS a name which applies
to each individual Of class Of objects; as,
man, boy, house.
"Rem. LAS proper noun de notes sim
ply an individual, whenever it IS made to
represent an individual as belonging to class
it becomes a common noun; as, lie is the
Cicero of his age,' !. e., distinguished ora
tor.
"Rem. 2.--Commou nouns, on the contra
ry, may become proper, when, by personifica-
ton, or special use, the object named is
regarded as an individual, not belonging to a
class; as, % Justice, thou art fled to brutlsh
beasts, and men have lost their reason.'--
The Common THE ."--Greene.
To the foregoing definitions and explana-
tions, see the following objections
IAN individual object signifies a single
object; hence, proper noun is the name Of a
single object. But boy, house, tree, the sun,
&C., are used to designate single, or individ-
ual objects as clearly as James, Erie, the
Mississippi, &c; herce, all common nouns
n the singular are. by the definition, proper
nouns.
2.-The definitions include objects only,
while the explanatory remarks gather in all
sorts of attributes; hence, they are not con-
sistent one with the other. ...s...
all Cicero is proper noun when used
to distinguish one individual from all others,
it remains proper noun when used fgura-
lively to denote distinguished orator; for it
loses none Of its Characteristic properties by
such use. "He is the Cicero Of his age,''
signifies, litera lily, If G icero was eloquent, so
so is he--Tf Cicero had not his equal living,
neither has he--He is as eminent, celebrated,
or renowned for his oratoiial powers, in his
age. as Cicero was in his.
4--A common noun nay, by perSonifcation.
be made to assume the characteristic proper
ties of proper noun, as stated in Rem. 2;
but by SPECIAL use, it can not; Tor, "The Com
mon," "The Park" The Sun, &c, denote
special or individual objects, when and only
where they have the special qualification oi
some adjective expressed. But as the ad
jectiye is not the noun nor any part Of the
noun, it follows that the meaning only OF the
noun is changed, while its nature remains
exactly the same.
5.-The foregoing definitions and expla-
nations do not include all nouns; for names
alone are here considered nouns, whereas
signs and clauses are often nouns, and sboulo
be included also, although they are not names
but merely the representatives OF certain ide
as or the declarations Of certain thoughts; as,
x, refers the reader TO ioot>note. Here 4
is not name but the object itself used in>
stead Of its name-tbe asteTisk Again, al
know he will succeed" Here, "he will sue
ceed,'' is noun, but it is not name; it is
merely the declaration of an inevitable occur.
renee.
7.--They do not include the collective
noun unless it may be considered proper
noun; for flock" is The name Of a collection
OIL ertain objects, and does not apply to each
individual OF class Of objects Hence, by
the definition, it can not be common noun
But as it is not the name of single, or indi-
vidual object it can not be a proper noun,
therefore, it is excluded altogether.
In No. l, | gave a few principles from
which, a good definition of the noun may be
derived, and | might, by giving few addi-
tional principles, show, not only the proper
sub, divisions to be made, but also the proper
definition OF each; but have not the proper
space to do SO now, nor would 1t be necessa-
ry, ii teachers would always make it point
to think for themselves. Therefore, hoping
that we have, at least, a few independent
minds in this county, that are competent and
willing to determine the. following problem
or give it a common-sense solution will
submit it as follows:
Given, good comprehensive definition OF
the noun in general terms, together with the
various notifications, qualifications, limita
tions, and applications OF the noun, to deter
In inc its proper sub divisions and construct
good definition for each. -s l. 81,
Lett hear from you, gentlemen; let us
have a solution of the problem. | will give
nice little prize to the one who will pro-
duce the best original solution before the
first day Of September, 1862.
| ~-~ltf.t -- tab.