This little work was announced as in preparation some years ago, but illness compelled me to lay it aside when only a few pages had been written, and since then my health has seldom permitted me to attempt any work in addition to my daily task as one of the editors of the Oxford Eng/i511 Dictionary. Some of the faults of this volume may be due to the desultory manner in which it has been composed; but, on the other hand, the length of time that has elapsed since it was first planned has given me Opportunity for more care ful consideration of difficult points.