Higher Lessons in English Part 58

(Drop the vowel _e_ or _o_ in the ending of the masculine, and add _ess_.)

Actor, amba.s.sador, arbiter, benefactor, conductor, director, editor, enchanter, hunter, idolater, instructor, preceptor, tiger, waiter.

(Drop the masculine _er_ or _or_, and add the feminine _ess_.)

Adventurer, caterer, governor, murderer, sorcerer.

(The following are somewhat irregular.)

+Direction+.--_Learn these forms:_--

Abbot, abbess; duke, d.u.c.h.ess; emperor, empress; lad, la.s.s; marquis, marchioness; master, mistress; negro, negress.

_Ess_ was formerly more common than now. Such words as _editor_ and _author_ are now frequently used to denote persons of either s.e.x.

+Direction+.--_Give five nouns ending in e r or o r that may be applied to either s.e.x._

Some words, mostly foreign, have various endings in the feminine.

+Direction+.--Learn the following forms:--

Administrator, administratrix; Augustus, Augusta; beau, belle; Charles, Charlotte; Cornelius, Cornelia; czar, czarina; don, donna; equestrian, equestrienne; executor, executrix; Francis, Frances; George, Georgiana; Henry, Henrietta; hero, heroine; infante, infanta; Jesse, Jessie; Joseph, Josephine; Julius, Julia _or_ Juliet; landgrave, landgravine; Louis, Louisa _or_ Louise; Paul, Pauline; signore _or_ signor, siguora; sultan, sultana; testator, testatrix; widower, widow.

In some compounds distinguis.h.i.+ng words are prefixed or affixed.

+Direction+.--_Learn the following forms_:--

Billy-goat, nanny-goat; buck-rabbit, doe-rabbit; c.o.c.k-sparrow, hen-sparrow; Englishman, Englishwoman; gentleman, gentlewoman; grandfather, grandmother; he-bear, she-bear; landlord, landlady; man-servant, maid-servant; merman, mermaid; Mr. Jones, Mrs. or Miss Jones; peac.o.c.k, peahen.

Words wholly or radically different are used to distinguish the masculine from the feminine.

(This is a matter pertaining to the dictionary rather than to grammar.)

+Direction+.--_Learn the following forms_:--

Bachelor, maid; buck, doe; drake, duck; earl, countess; friar _or_ monk, nun; gander, goose; hart, roe; lord, lady; nephew, niece; sir, madam; stag, hind; steer, heifer; wizard, witch; youth, damsel _or_ maiden.

The p.r.o.noun has three gender forms:--Masculine _he_, feminine _she_, and neuter _it_. [Footnote: _It_, although a neuter form, is used idiomatically to refer to a male or a female as, _It_ was _John_; _It_ was _Mary_.]

+Direction+.--_Give five examples of each of the three ways of distinguis.h.i.+ng the masculine from the feminine._

LESSON 118.

GENDER FORMS IN CONSTRUCTION.

Gender as a matter of orthography is of some importance, but in grammar it is chiefly important as involving the correct use of the p.r.o.nouns _he_, _she_, and _it_.

When a singular noun is used so as to imply persons of both s.e.xes, it is commonly represented by a masculine p.r.o.noun. [Footnote: When it is necessary to distinguish the s.e.xes, both the masculine and the feminine p.r.o.noun should be used; as, _Each person was required to name his or her favorite flower._]

+Example+.--Every _person_ has _his_ faults.

The names of animals are often considered as masculine or feminine without regard to the real s.e.x.

+Examples+.--The _grizzly bear_ is the most savage of _his_ race. The _cat_ steals upon _her_ prey.

+Remark+.--The writer employs _he_ or _she_ according as he fancies the animal to possess masculine or feminine characteristics. _He_ is more frequently employed than _she_.

The neuter p.r.o.noun _it_ is often used with reference to animals and very young children, the s.e.x being disregarded.

+Examples+.--When the _deer_ is alarmed, _it_ gives two or three graceful springs. The little _child_ reached out _its_ hand to catch the sunbeam.

+Remark+.--_It_ is quite generally used instead of _he_ or _she_, in referring to an animal, unless some masculine or feminine quality seems to predominate.

Inanimate things are often represented as living beings, that is, they are personified, and are referred to by the p.r.o.noun _he_ or _she_.

+Example+.--The _oak_ shall send _his_ roots abroad and pierce thy mold.

+Remark+.--The names of objects distinguished for size, power, or sublimity are regarded as masculine; and the names of those distinguished for grace, beauty, gentleness, or productiveness are considered as feminine.

Personification adds beauty and animation to style.

+Direction+.--_Study what is said above, and then fill each of the blanks in the following sentences with a masculine, a feminine, or a neuter p.r.o.noun, and in each case give the reason for your selection_:--

1. No one else is so much alone in the universe as ---- who denies G.o.d.

2. A person's manners not unfrequently indicate ---- morals, 3. Everybody should think for ----.

4. The forest's leaping panther shall yield ---- spotted hide.

5. The catamount lies in the boughs to watch ---- prey.

6. The mocking-bird poured from ---- little throat floods of delirious music.

7. The wild beast from ---- cavern sprang, the wild bird from ---- grove.

8. The night-sparrow trills ---- song.

9. The elephant is distinguished for ---- strength and sagacity.

10. The bat is nocturnal in ---- habits.

11. The dog is faithful to ---- master.

12. The child was unconscious of ---- danger.

13. The fox is noted for ---- cunning.

14. Belgium's capital had gathered then ---- beauty and ---- chivalry.

15. Despair extends ---- raven wing.

16. Life mocks the idle hate of ---- arch-enemy, Death.

17. Spring comes forth ---- work of gladness to contrive.

18. Truth is fearless, yet ---- is meek and modest.

+Direction+.--_Write sentences in which the things named below shall be personified by means of masculine p.r.o.nouns_:--

Death, time, winter, war, sun, river, wind.

+Direction+.--Write sentences in which the things named below shall be personified by means of feminine p.r.o.nouns:--