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Preface
The Plan of the Lexicon
Directions for Using the Lexicon
Patronage
[page v]
PREFACE.
〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰THIS Comprehensive Tamil and English Dictionary, as its title indicates, embraces both the Common and Poetic Dialects of the Tamil language, including its principal Astronomical, Astrological, Mythological, Botanical, Scientific and Official terms; as also the names of many authors, poets, heroes and gods. Containing, as it does, upwards of 30,000 words more than any similar work, it will, it is hoped, be found a most important help in acquiring such a knowledge of the language, as will enable the student really to profit by its literature. It will also be found useful to those who may wish for condensed information on the philosophy, the religion, the superstitions, and the customs of the Hindus. A few remarks on the relation of the Tamil to some other languages, may not be here out of place.
Professor MAX MULLER, in his celebrated lectures, divides nearly all the languages of the world into three main families—the Aryan, Semitic, and Turanian. The Aryan includes the Sanscrit, Greek, and Latin; the Semitic is divided into Aramaic, Hebraic, and Arabic; and the Turanian consists or the Tungusic, Mongolic, Turkic, Finnic and Samoyedic of the North, and the Tamulic, Bhotiya, Taic and Malaic to the South.
According to this classification Tamil belongs to the Turanian family. The REV. R. CALDWELL, L.L.D. has conclusively shewn that all the Dravidian languages are from the Scythian, and especially, its Finnic branch. But from affinities traced out by him, in addition to those hereafter given, it would seem that we may go farther back for many roots and forms in these tongues, to some common fountain both for them and for the languages of the Indo-European family, including Sanscrit; nearer to the time when "the whole earth was of one language." He specifies 85 words in the Dravidian, as having Scythian affinities, 31 as Semitic, and 106 connected with the West Indo-European family, distinct from those in Sanscrit.
It appears that some Aryans from the North, as missionaries of religion and civilization, had in a measure humanized the tribes in the Southern part of the Peninsula, previous to any warlike irruption; which perhaps never affected the Southern tribes as it did the Northern. When Rama, a fabled incarnation of Vishnu, conducted his army of monkeys, or wild men of the woods, from Oude to Ceylon, he found in his march holy ascetics from Ar'yavarta, lying between the Imaus and the Vind'hya mountains. Subsequently in the sixth or seventh century before Christ, at the head of a similar Colony, we find the celebrated Agastya, called the father of Tamil. He is said to have learned it from Skanda, the second son of Siva. We are not to suppose that he formed the Tamil Alphabet. The words எழுத்து, letter, and சுவடி, book, are original Tamil; and show that such existed before there were any innovations from Sanscrit, which Agastya himself commenced. He formed the first Tamil Grammar. It contained 12,000 Sutras. All is now lost except some fragments preserved by Tolkâpyan, in a Grammar which bears his own name. Agastya wrote voluminously, both in Tamil and Sanscrit, especially on Medicine; but probably few if any of the works now bearing his name are genuine. In the opinion of the REV. WILLIAM TAYLOR, the able Editor of Dr. Rottler's Dictionary, "there was originally one simple homogeneous dialect, spoken by rude, simple aborigines from the Himalaya to Cape Comorin." Mr. Taylor thinks that, "the earliest probable refinement of it was the Pali of the North, and the Tamil of the extreme South;" and that, "the Sanscrit assumed its own form by engrafting numerous Chaldaic terms of science and others of common use on the old Pali." It is evident from their names, that the Pali must have been anterior to the Sanscrit, the former signifying root or original, and the latter finished or polished. It is stated by Colonel Sykes, that very ancient inscriptions on rocks and coins, are found in Pali and Pracrit four hundred years earlier than in Sanscrit. *
It is said that the language of the Mountaineers of Rajah Mahal abounds in terms identified with Tamil and Telugu. What is more singular, the names by which the ivory, apes, and peacocks, conveyed by Solomon's
*Asiatic Journal, vol. xii. p. 415.
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ships of Tarshish were known, are the same with those still used in Tamil; seeming to imply that the traders visited Ceylon or India, and obtained with these novelties their Tamil names, DANTA, KAPI, and TOGAI, as found in the Hebrew Bible.The Tamil is not a vulgar dialect. Before the principal basis of the English had a written character, it was a highly polished language. Its name signifies sweetness, and though not so musical as the Telugu, in its poetic form especially, it is not without its claim to euphonic charms, and "linked sweetness."
Unlike several of the Vernaculars of India, it is not, as some have supposed, a daughter of the Sanscrit. Its Alphabet differs not only in character, but in sound; and is more limited. Its Grammar, though conformed to the Sanscrit, as far as the genius of the language would allow, is still very different. It has no article, no relative pronoun, no dual number, no optative mood. It differs in its numerals, ill many nouns, verbs, and adverbs, and in technical terms in grammar. In the declension of its nouns, the conjugation of its verbs, and the arrangement of its sentences, it more resembles the Latin.
While nearly all the Vernaculars of India have been greatly enriched from the Sanscrit, that wonderful language has condescended to borrow even from the Dravidian group, of which the Tamil is the oldest, and the principal. Dr. Caldwell in his learned Dravidian Comparative Grammar, instances 31 words in Sanscrit taken from Dravidian tongues, and 25 borrowed by both from some common source. He is of opinion that the Sanscrit derived its cerebral consonants from the Dravidian.
It is evident that there was an early literature in Tamil independent of Sanscrit; and now, within certain ranges of thought, omitting terms of art, science, religion in a great measure, and certain abstract forms, we may write in pure Tamil, as in English we may in pure Saxon. In fact the nearer we approach the Shen-Tamil the less we need Sanscrit. Dr. Caldwell has well said, "the Tamil the most cultivated, ab-intra, of all the Dravidian idioms, can dispense with the Sanscrit altogether, if need be, and not only stand alone, but flourish, without its aid." It is certain that Tamil could do without Sanscrit much better than English without Latin. In many respects, it would have been well, if the aboriginal tribes at the South had been left without Aryan civilization. Undoubtedly the Brahmans improved their dialects, and taught them much of useful art and science; but by bringing them under the influence of the Puranic system of idolatry, they shackled their intellects, perverted their moral sense, and bound them fast to error by the chains of caste. The reason why Tamil is more independent of Sanscrit than the Northern languages, and even than the other Dravidian tongues, is, that it has not been left, like those, principally to the cultivation of the Brahmans. The Cural of Tiruvalluvar, or sacred Pariah priest, written perhaps in the ninth century, A. D., and containing 1,330 distichs, is regarded as one of the finest productions in the Tamil language; but its author was a Pariah. A reputed sister of his, called Auveiyar, or Matron, wrote brief epigrammatic moral verses, of much merit, now used in all the Native Schools. The Chintamani "a brilliant romantic epic" of 15,000 lines, was written, probably in the tenth century, A. D., by a Jaina; and the Nannul, a High Tamil Grammar of great value, a little later, also by a Jaina. The imitation, not translation, of the Ramayana, was composed about the eleventh century, A. D., by Kamban, the son of a king, and not of the priestly tribe. His production, consisting of 12,016 stanzas, in five books, is considered by learned Tamilians as superior to the original.
The Tamil has certainly been greatly enriched from the Sanscrit, and has borrowed from it some letters, rather, however, as a convenience than necessity. There is no reason for rejecting this aid, within proper bounds. By it, the language has become copious, as before, it was precise, philosophical, and energetic. A native author of repute, well versed in English, as well as his own vernacular, has said, adopting the words of Mr. Taylor before mentioned, "it is one of the most copious, refined, and polished languages spoken by man."* This Author has added, what may admit of doubt, "few nations on earth can perhaps boast of so many poets as the Tamils." As, however, all their earlier literature was in poetry, even Dictionaries and Grammars, and works on Medicine, Law, Architecture and Theology, the number of poets, so called, must have been great. The Chola, Sera, and Pândyan kings of Southern India, especially the latter, from the 6th century before Christ, to the 14th century after, were liberal patronizers of the Poets. A college of literati, called the Madura sangam, was long in existence. The sunshine of royal favor brought many poets into light, if not into life. Their works were
* Tamil Plutarch by Simon Casie Chitty, Esq.-Preface.
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mostly destroyed by the Mohammedans in the early part of the 14th century. It is not perhaps extravagant to say, that, in its poetic form, the Tamil is more polished and exact than the Greek, and in both dialects, with its borrowed treasures, more copious than the Latin. In its fulness and power it more resembles English and German than any other living language. Its prose-style is yet in a forming state, and will well repay the labor of accurate scholars in moulding it properly. Many Natives, who write poetry readily, cannot write a page of correct prose.In one respect the Tamil has an advantage over the other vernaculars of India. It has a greater amount of Christian literature. As the number of Native Christians speaking Tamil is two or three times greater than of those speaking any other vernacular, so the books prepared in that language are proportionably more numerous.
It will be seen, therefore, that a Lexicon which will enable a student to read their books in poetry, as well as prose, is very necessary. Hitherto the Dictionary of Dr. Rottler has been the only one professing to give any aid to the student in reading Native books, except of the most elementary kind, and that, though very valuable, is too limited in its vocabulary, and deficient in Astrological, Mythological and Scientific terms, fully to answer the purpose. It is very much confined to the Tamil of the Continent, not embracing much that is in good use in Ceylon.
To those who may wish to know something of the history of this work, it may be stated, that it was commenced before any part of ROTTLER'S dictionary was printed, by the REV. J. KNIGHT, Church Missionary at Jaffna, assisted by MR. GABRIEL TISSERA, a learned Native connected with the American Mission there. The plan embraced not only a Tamil-English Lexicon of the common and poetic dialects, but, on a smaller scale, an English-Tamil Dictionary, and one of Tamil synonyms. Mr. Knight, who was an accurate Tamil scholar, labored diligently, as far as other duties allowed, in collecting materials for these publications, and was ably assisted by the REV. PETER PERCIVAL, then of Jaffna, now Professor of Sanscrit and Vernacular Literature in the Presidency College, and other Missionaries, as also by Native scholars. After four or five years a voyage to England, in 1838, on account of ill health, obliged him to suspend the work; and his death, followed immediately on his return to Ceylon.
The materials collected were transferred to the American Mission, in Jaffna, which had borne the expense of their collection. From them, in part, the REV. LEVI SPAULDING, M. A., brought out the contemplated Tamil Dictionary, and the REV. SAMUEL HUTCHINGS, M. A., removing from Jaffna to Madras in 1842, continued the printing of the English and Tamil work. At the same time he carried on the preparation for the larger Dictionary. In little more than a year his health failed, and he left India with no prospect of returning. It then devolved upon the present Compiler to take charge of all the materials collected, to carry on the preparation for the larger work, and to finish the correcting and printing of the English-Tamil Dictionary; of which about one fourth remained unfinished. This was done in a few months. Subsequently in 1852 Mr. Spaulding, who had assisted in first preparing the work, brought out a second edition in Jaffna.
It is unnecessary to state all the causes of delay in commencing, and of subsequent interruption in prosecuting the principal work. One or two circumstances may be mentioned to show why, between the time of undertaking its preparation and its final completion, so many years elapsed. It is evident that a Missionary with the entire care of a station, having a Native church, a large English school, and several schools in the vernacular, could not devote a great proportion of his best hours to any literary pursuit, however important. Besides these occupations, there was, in the present case, an extra draught of four hours a day, for three or four months, in as many successive years, in the revision of the Tamil Scriptures, to say nothing of labor as Secretary of a Mission, and, through most of these years as financial agent for two other Missions.
The task to be accomplished was also great. Besides large deficiencies in the materials collected, they were arranged on a plan which it was thought best not to follow, and however valuable, as a whole, were somewhat like fish brought to shore in a net, good and bad together. A selection had to be made, and the Vocabulary required to be greatly increased.
So far as the materials had been arranged, the words collected were placed alphabetically, without reference to their origin, whether Tamil or Sanscrit, or to their being primitives or derivatives. The representative of
[page viii]
the verb was the past verbal, after the manner of Sadur-Agaradi. This is convenient, but exposes to error; because the verbal has sometimes a different meaning from other parts of the verb. After much consultation, it was thought best to take the root of the verb, as of other parts of speech, for the leading word. This is the imperative singular. All the parts of the verb flow naturally from that. This arrangement, though the most simple, as well as most philosophical, had not been adopted in any Dictionary, and required an entire re-casting of the copy so far as prepared. It was also thought necessary to separate the Sanscrit from the Tamil words, designating the primitives by an asterisk, and, in important cases, giving a reference to WILSON'S Sanscrit Dictionary, which had not been done at all in the copy. Often a single word stood for both Sanscrit and Tamil. The derivatives, too, were to be brought under their primitives, when it could be done without making it too difficult to find them. On this account it was necessary to write and re-write the copy several times. But what was a vastly greater labor, Tamil renderings were to be added to all the principal words, and the various meanings, with translations of the examples. This was for the double purpose of fixing the definitions more precisely, and of making the Dictionary useful to natives not understanding English.Though a very small part of the copy was at that time in any sense complete, a commencement in printing was made in 1853, and proceeded with by the Compiler to September 1855, when he was obliged, by loss of health, to leave for his native land; and was absent nearly two and a half years. The Rev. Peter Percival, before mentioned, very kindly undertook the supervision of the preparation and printing, for a time; and continued his labors about a year, when his professional duties obliged him to suspend them. Only 280 pages were then printed. When resumed in 1858, and 80 pages added, there was what threatened to be a final stop to the undertaking for want of money. The American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions, who had hitherto borne all the expense, could not, on account of a large debt, make further advances, even to save themselves from the almost entire sacrifice of all that had been done.
To prevent the waste, in great measure, of what had been printed, the loss of the manuscripts prepared, and the failure of bringing out a book so much needed, after application to Government for aid—which was unsuccessful, except to the extent previously promised of taking one hundred copies of the book when finished—the Compiler proposed to carry on the undertaking by dividing the expense into 70 shares of Rupees 200 each, and to allow to every share 10 Copies of the Lexicon; which would be at the rate of Rupees 20 for each copy. If all were taken the estimated expense would be met, and 500 copies of the edition remain for the American Board, toward their previous large outlay.
This proposal was responded to only in part, as will be seen by reference to the list of Subscribers. To the present time,—including the subscription from Government—the amount subscribed is scarcely more than a moiety of the estimated expense. Had this been as great as was expected, there would be Rupees 7,000 to be provided for. It has been considerably less. Still it leaves a debt of more than Rupees 5,000, to be met by the gradual sale of the work. This of course rests on the Compiler, who commenced it on his own private responsibility, with the expectation of probable loss, and with no chance of gain. Whatever is realized, above the actual expense, is to go to the American Board. When only a small part of the money needed was given, or promised, the printing was re-commenced in September 1859, and steadily prosecuted to its conclusion, in July 1862; or in a little less than three years.
In the preparation of the work the Compiler has been aided at different times by competent Natives. Of these, the first was Ramanuja Cavi Rayar, long well known as a leading Munshi in Madras. He is not living. The next, and for some years, until he was appointed Head Munshi in the Presidency College, was T. Vizagaperumal; then, until he also left for the College, Veerasawmy Chetty. For the last two years, Athimoolum Moodelly, and for a longer time Mr. Abraham Alliene, a good native scholar. The sheets as issued from the Press have had the benefit of correction, for a short time, by Mr. B. Kellogg, connected with the Department of Public Instruction, and for most of the remainder by D. C. Visvanatha Pillai, B. A. To all these the Compiler would express his obligations, also to Mr. Nevins who was with him for a year after recommencing the printing; but more especially to Mr. Percival, as having charge of the preparation and printing of the work during the absence of the Compiler.
For the neatness of the typography, and general accuracy and taste of the printing, all who use the Lexicon will feel themselves indebted to Mr. HUNT, Superintendent of the American Mission Press, and his Assistants.
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The work was begun and has been prosecuted, principally, to promote Christian Missions, by assisting Missionaries to acquire the Tamil language. This is not to be learned by a few vocabularies, or from Dictionaries of the common dialect only. Who could fancy that he had a knowledge of Latin or Greek if he had not read a single poem in those languages? It is not that Missionaries should use high words in their conversation or preaching, that they ought to know something of the poetic dialect, but, on the contrary, that they may know how to avoid them, and use good words neither too high nor too low, that is too vulgar. As, however, the natives are exceedingly pleased with any thing in the shape of poetry, or song, a preacher who would address them with most effect, should be able sometimes to quote from the songs, and poetic sayings, of the "wise men" among the Hindus.
A missionary, who has a fair acquaintance with Tamil, stated publicly that it was long before he learned that the Tamilians have a high and low language, and that he was, while in this state of ignorance, not understood by the people, because he used the former, as learned from books. But his mistake consisted not in using good words, such as he might learn from well written books, or from good speakers in public or in conversation, but in not using the right words in the right place; or, perhaps in not pronouncing them correctly; for most foreigners fail more in pronunciation than in the use of words. No one need to employ vulgarisms, or imitate the patois of horse-keepers, or any other low dialect, to be understood. The common people understand a grammatical sentence, and the proper use of finite verbs, as well as one ungrammatical, in which the persons and tenses are merged in some imperfect form of the verb. If a scholar, leaving the proper rules of the language, tries to learn the various vulgar dialects, which a native may use intelligibly, he will be constantly liable to make ludicrous mistakes. Who but an Irishman would undertake to use the English of a low Irishman, or who but a Highland Scotchman venture upon Gaelic forms? The truth is there is not a high and low Tamil, except of the poetic and common dialect; but there is a simple grammatical Tamil, intelligible to high and low, as in English, unless interlarded with high words—as may be done in any language, if one wishes to show his learning, or knows no better—and there are endless varieties of provincialisms, cant-words, words peculiar to a trade or profession, and vulgarisms differing in different places, and among different classes, and not intelligible to all, even of the Natives; and much less at proper command by a foreigner. The missionary has little to do with these, except to avoid them.
An accurate knowledge of the language is indispensable to every Missionary to the Tamilians, who would, in the highest sense, magnify his office. One reason of the comparative inefficiency of many who speak and preach in a vernacular, whether foreigners or natives, is their limited acquaintance with its richness and power. Even those principally employed in teaching Native youth through the medium of English, would find themselves possessed of a new faculty, if able freely to use the mother tongue of the pupil. They could then ascertain whether their teaching was understood; and could not only teach but educate. The great desideratum in all Anglo-Vernacular Institutions is, to make the pupils thorough in their knowledge of their own language, as well as the English, that they may be able to transfer the treasures of the latter into the former. The actual fact is, that many natives who are good English scholars, neglect, if they do not despise, their own tongue. To all Government officers among the Tamil people; to all educated Native youths in their midst; and to all Oriental scholars, a knowledge of this language is important.
There is an increasing conviction of the value of this knowledge. The Government have given a wide-spread stimulus to the study of the Vernaculars, by requiring many of their agents, both in the Civil and Military service, to cultivate them, and by establishing Examinations to test the fitness of natives as well as other applicants for employment, as in other respects, so also, in an acquaintance with some vernacular. In the Missionary Schools, and Government Institutions, more attention is paid than formerly to the native languages. The Press is also aiding in the work. A brighter day is thus dawning upon the natives of India.
Amidst the various hinderances and discouragements which have attended the prosecution of this work, and made its wheels drag heavily, and sometimes to stop, it is only by the special blessing of God, that it has been concluded. At the feet of JEHOVAH-JESUS it is humbly laid; to all Missionaries among the Tamil people, it is respectfully dedicated.
M. WINSLOW.
American Mission House, Chintadrepettah,
Madras, August, 1862.[page x]
THE PLAN OF THE LEXICON.
〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰In using this Lexicon its plan should be understood. It is intended to combine, as far as possible, a philosophical and alphabetical arrangement of the words, without repetition. The derivatives are brought under their primitives—which are arranged alphabetically, in large type—when the initial letters are the same or changed by common grammatical rules. If different, the important words are given as principals, with a reference to the root. The verbs also are given as principals in large type. The derivatives are in a medium type, and are arranged, with the exception mentioned, under their primitives, either alphabetically or in the order of the definitions with which they are connected. The DIRECTIONS FOR USING must therefore be consulted.
When verbal nouns are given, it is to fortify the definition of the word by reference to the Sadur, or because the verbal, as is sometimes the case, differs somewhat from the verb, or one form of a verbal from another. Those ending in ல் and in பு often differ, as the latter takes more the meaning of a substantive, and is regularly declined. Though it has been intended to place the definitions, generally, in the order of their importance, the most common are not always given first. There are other considerations to be taken into account, in determining the extent of a meaning, which are not in every case obvious.
It will be noticed that Adjectives, Adverbs and some Particles are given as primaries. This may not be strictly correct, according to Tamil grammarians, who make little distinction between these and Nouns, especially the two former; but it is convenient.
Adjective forms of abstract nouns, as அருமை, கருமை, கொடுமை, சிறுமை, பெருமை, &c., might be arranged under their nouns, but in some of them, as for instance the two last, it is more simple to make the adjective also a primary. In some cases it may be doubtful which is the root. Adjectives proper are not very numerous, their place being generally supplied, by nouns and participles, but there are some, and these of course, are primaries, as நல் or நல்ல, சில, பல, and மற்ற. We might add புது and பொது, but they may be formed from the abstract nouns புதுமை and பொதுமை.
The grammatical rules occasionally given for the change, omission, or reduplication of letters, may be considered by some as superfluous; but to many they will be a convenience. The reference of important words to Wilson's Sanscrit Dictionary, Second Edition, when found in that, is for the better satisfaction of those who can thus verify the meanings there. When authorities are given, as Rottler, Beschi, Ellis, or சது, for சதுரகராதி, Sadur-Agaradi, especially in regard to the last, it is not to be understood that other words have not like authority, though not given, or that the definition rests only on such authority; but that these especially sanction the word in the use given. The former of them, within the limited plan of its Vocabulary, and making allowance for the meanings being given by Synonyms, is usually correct. There is scarcely a word of which several exact synonyms can be given, much less will each of those be words synonymous with every other. For instance, while under அச்சம், twenty-five synonyms are given, scarcely half a dozen of them could be used for as many others in the list. This source of error is to be guarded against, in using the Sadur.
Great assistance has been derived from Dr. Rottler's Dictionary. When doubt existed as to his renderings, and they seemed not fully supported by others, his name is given. In Botanical names he has been often followed, because the old system is better known, except to professed botanists. Other authorities have, however, been consulted; and sometimes the new classification has been adopted. As to Beschi, and the Old Dictionary, they are not authority, except as to the fact of the word having been in use. The addition of prov. for provincial, has a general, but not exclusive reference to Jaffna usage, and that of local to Madras. Poetic (p.) implies that there is only poetic authority for the word, and (c.) for common, that it is frequent, but not classical, while (v.) for vulgar carries its own meaning.
In the first part of the Lexicon to the name of some medicinal and other plants M. Dic. is annexed to show the authority to be a Medical Dictionary, as Ainslie or some other; but as reference for these is sometimes to Ainslie, sometime to a Botanical Dictionary, and sometimes to Drury on the Useful Plants of India, this reference is omitted in most of the pages.
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DIRECTIONS FOR USING THE LEXICON.
〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰Look for the root of the word sought, which in verbs is the imperative, among those in the largest type. If the first two or three letters are known the word will easily be found. If there be a change from these in the derivatives, it will generally be sufficient to recollect the usual rules for the mutation of letters. For instance you have கற்க, and do not find it in this form, you will, of course, look under கல்; or for நிற்க, under நில். Imperatives, however, though capable of being traced further back to a primitive root, are given as primaries, for ease of reference. Thus you find சுருட்டு, though it comes from சுருள். Whatever part of a verb you may have, look for the imperative, which will be its first letter, or first two or three letters, unless changed by rule. If a word supposed to be a derivative is not found as such, it is to be looked for as a primary, for the reason before mentioned. It is to be remembered that the alphabetical order is followed for each distinct class, whether primaries or secondaries, and, therefore, the search for a word is not to be given up until both have been carefully examined, bearing in mind the rules for the change of letters. Let it also be remembered that the letters ப் and வ் are often used interchangeably, also ந் and ன், and that ன் sometimes stands for ண் and ற் for ர் with a mute following. Thus for பாவம் is பாபம், for சிநேகம் is சினேகம், for வண்ணம் is வன்னம், and for ஙிர்ப்பாக்கியம், you may have ஙிற்பாக்கியம். For the Sanscrit form கர்த்தா you find கருத்தர், கர்த்தர் and even கத்தர்; for சாஸ்திரம், you have the Tamil form சாத்திரம், for அஷ்டம், you see அட்டம், for சூஸ்திரம்—சூத்திரம் for குஷ்டம்—குட்டம், and for பிறியம்—பிரியம்; for the vulgar forms மிறுகம், and கிறிகை, you have மிருகம், and கிரியை. These are only examples to be borne in mind in looking for words not readily found. With the leading word, notice any that may be connected with it, or mentioned subsequently, whether as common or vulgar.
In words like ஒத்த, remember that the root may be only the first vowel, as in this case ஒ, and look for that. When there is a verb in which the consonant of the root is doubled, but you do not find the imperative in that form, look for the root with a single consonant, as அண் for அண்ணு. For முயற்சி, உருட்சி, &c., refer to முயலு, உருள், &c., and for எடை and உடை, see the roots எடு and உடு. In compound words of a genus and species, the former, as the root, will often be the last part of the word, as, கூட்டச்சாலை, a road shaded by thick trees; சிலாபாகம், a hard style in writing.
Observe that verbal nouns are usually placed after the other derivatives of the verb, unless, as sometimes, they are made primaries; and that Tamil words, and Tamil letters, take precedence of the Sanscrit. The letter ஷ் follows ட். The Sanscrit prefixes, whether they are privative, or otherwise, are followed by their compounds, as அப, privation, அபகாரம், ingratitude. Such Sanscrit words as முக்யம் and சக்தி are found in their Tamil form முக்கியம் and சத்தி.
As ரand ல are not properly initial letters, இ or உ will usually be found placed before them, but some foreign words, and a few others, are given with these initials. Some beginning with ஐ, and two or three other Sanscrit letters, are entered, being frequently found in print.
The Abbreviations scarcely need explanation. The principal are, prov. at the beginning of a sentence, provincial; at the end, Proverb; St. or Sans. Sanscrit; Hind. Hindustanî; Ar. Arabic; Pers. Persian; for. foreign; Mah. Mahratta; fig. figurative; inf. infinitive; v. noun, verbal noun; appel. n. appellative noun; priv. privative.
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[page xiii]
PATRONAGE.
〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰The London Missionary Society kindly took four shares; the Church Missionary Society, two; the American Board for its Ceylon and Madura Missions, two; the American Reformed Dutch Church, one and a half; the Vernacular Christian Education Society, one; H. Stokes, Esq., one; W. H. Bayley, Esq., one-half; W. E. Dodge, Esq., New York, one; London Missionaries, South Travancore, one; a Lady, one; Jaffna Missionaries, one; Messrs. Spicer Brothers, London, one; Messrs. Trübner and Co., London, one. Besides these there have been subscriptions for separate copies from Missionaries, and other friends, in India and America, amounting to about seven shares, of which the Wesleyan Missionaries took half a share, and the Missionaries in Tinnevelly one share. The names of these and of the Jaffna Missionaries, are in the List of Subscribers below. In the List will also be found the names of many others who were pleased to patronize the undertaking in this way, in its earlier and later stages; and of donations generously made by the Honorable J. F. Thomas, Esq., George Arbuthnot, Esq., and some others in England and America; and of Lieut. Col. J. Maitland in India.
SUBSCRIPTIONS. (In advance.)*
His Excellency Sir W. T. Denison, K. C. B. 1 copy. Rev. A. Levell, 1 copy. D. E. Carmichael, Esq. 1 do. Rev. G. Hobday, 1 do. Rev. C. E. Kennet, Tinnevelly, 1 do. Rev. W. H. Dean, 2 copies. Rev. J. Seller. 1 do. John Cassie Chetty, Esq. 3 do. Rev. Robert Caldwell, LL. D. 1 do. G. Worthington, Esq. 1 copy. Rev. J. F. Kearns, Paid Rs. 10. 1 do. Rev. W. Talbot, 1 do. Rev. J. Earnshaw, 1 do. Rev. C. F. Kremmer, 1 do. Rev. T. Brotherton, M. A. 3 copies. R. Speeling, Esq. 1 do. Rev. E. E. Jenkins, M. A. Madras. 1 copy. M. E. Saminaden, 1 do. Rev. Henry Bower, 1 do Rev. R. Watson, 1 do. Rev. Alexander MacCallum, 1 do. Rev. A. B. Valpy, 1 do. D. H. Paterson, Esq. M. D. 1 do. Captain R. J . Mainwaring, 1 do. Rev. S. E. Symons. 1 do. Rev. S Hobbs, 1 do. Hon. C. Pelly, Esq. 1 do. A. C. Burnell, Esq. 1 do. J. D. Bourdillon, Esq. 1 do. James Short, Esq. 1 do. Walter Elliot, Esq. 1 do. W. E. Jellico, Esq. 1 do. C. F. Chamier, Esq. 2 copies. Mr. T. Garnier, 1 do. J. D. Sim, Esq. 1 copy. Rev. W. Clarke, 1 do. G. S. Hooper, Esq. 1 do. Rev. W. Stachlin, 1 do. Rev. Dayid Fenn, North Tinnevelly, 1 do. Rev. E. Webb, 1 do. Rev. Levi Spaulding, M. A. Jaffna, 1 do. Rev. D. C. Scudder, M. A. 1 do. Rev. M. D. Sanders, M. A. 1 do. Rev. J. C. Smith, M.A. 1 do. Rev. E. P. Hastings, M. A. 1 do. S. W. Ambalavanen, 1 do. Rev. James Quick, 1 do. F. B. Mainguy, Esq. 1 do. Rev. Robert Pargiter, 1 do. S. Ambalavanen, Esq. 3 copies. Rev. John Kilner, 1 do. Captain. J C. Macdonald, 1 copy. Rev. C. C. Arthur, 1 do. J. W. Weir, 1 do. Rev. Richard Wilson, 1 do. Lieut. C. A. Porteous, 1 do. Mr. Robert Breckenridge, 1 do. E. Carper, 1 do. Rev. P. Rajahgopaul, Madras, 1 do. J. Page, 1 do. Rev. Robert Halley, M. A. 2 copies. Rev. W. Tracy, M. A. 1 do. Rev. R. J. Sargent, 1 copy. A. F. Sealy, Esq, 1 do. G. T. Beauchamp, Esq. 1 do. Rev. J. Whitechurch, 1 do. Thomas Clarke, Esq. 2 copies. Rev. J. F. Gannaway, 1 do. Sir Arthur Cotton, K. C. B. 1 copy. Rev. Willam Taylor, Madras, 1 do. J. Townsend Fowler, Esq. 1 do. Rev. Edward Chester, 1 do. Captain M. W. Carr, 1 do. R. O. D. Asbury, Jaffna, 1 do. Rev. W. O. Simpson, 2 copies. A. Gnanamuttu, Kandy, 3 copies. Rev. A. F. Wolff, 1 copy. Professor E. E. Salisbury, New Haven, America. 3 do. Rev. P. Batchelor, 1 do. Professor Green, Georgia, America, 5 do. * The names on the list are generally in the order of Subscription.
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SUBSCRIPTIONS. (In arrears.)
His Excellency Sir Charles Trevelyan, K. C. B. 1 copy. T. L. Strange, Esq. 1 copy. Rev. E. Sargent, Tinnevelly, 1 do. Hatley Frere, Esq. 1 do. Rev. J. Spratt, 1 do. Hon. E. Maltby, Esq. 1 do. Rev. J. Gritton, 1 do. Free Church of Scotland, 1 do. Miss Richard, 1 do. Rev. J. Guest, 1 do. Rev. Peter J. Evers, Madras, 1 do. William Underwood, Esq. 1 do. Rev. John Jones, Trichinopoly, 1 do. T. Pycroft, Esq. 1 do. Arthur Hall, Esq., Madras, 1 do. Messrs. Trübner and Co., London, 10 copies. W. Hudleston, Esq. 1 do. Rev. D. Warren Poor, D. D. America. 1 copy. The Madras Government 100 Copies [at share-price.]
DONATIONS.
〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰
RS. RS. Honorable J. F. Thomas, Esq. England, 50 John Walker, Esq. England, 10 George Arbuthnot, Esq. do. 50 General Alexander, do. 5 J. M. Strachan, Esq. do. 10 Lieut. Col. J. Maitland, Madras, 50 Colonel Lavie, do. 10 Mrs. Ireland, New York 10 Colonel Smith, do. 10
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