Excerpt from An Etymological Dictionary, or Analysis of the English Language: Containing the Radicals and Definitions of Words Derived From the Greek, Latin, and French Languages; And All the Generally Used Technical and Polite Phrases, Adapted From the French and Latin Many years will elapse, before we are enlightened; much arduous application will be used, much painful degradation suffered. Even when we conceive that we have dispelled the obstructing cl'ouds, we are encom passed by a remaining misty - by an opacity, more dan gerons than complete darkness, because more deceitful. Without a previous classical education, (which is at tained by few males, and scarcely by any females, ) we are seriously perplexed: we know not which Is the lite ral, which the figurative import of a word; how fat the folmer may be extended -within what bounds the lat ter should be confined. We have derived our knowledge of ideal sounds from those who are not competent to teach, or willing to instruct; who may mislead us through ignorance, or deceive us through design. We resemble a vessel without a pilot, which is subject to the valiable directions of her crew, and, In tracing the windings of the channel, is wrecked upon its banks. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.