Читать книгу The Etymology and Syntax of the English Language Explained and Illustrated онлайн

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We not only observe a plurality of substances, or of things of the same sort, whence arises the distinction of number; but we distinguish also another character of some substances, which we call sex. Every substance is either male or female, or neither the one nor the other. In English, all male animals are considered as masculine; all female animals as feminine; and all things inanimate, or destitute of sex, are termed neuter, as belonging neither to the male nor the female sex. In this distribution we follow the order of nature; and our language is, in this respect, both simple and animated.

The difference of sex is, in some cases, expressed by different words, as,

Masc. Fem. Boy Girl Buck Doe Bull Cow Bullock Heifer Boar Sow Drake Duck Friar Nun Gaffer Gammer Gander Goose Gelding } Mare Horse } Milter Spawner Nephew Niece Ram Ewe Sloven Slut Stag Hind Widower Widow Wizard Witch

Sometimes the female is distinguished by the termination ess or ix.

Masc. Fem. Abbot Abbess Actor Actress Adulterer Adulteress Ambassador Ambassadress Arbiter Arbitress Author Authoress Baron Baroness Chanter Chantress Count Countess Deacon Deaconess Duke Duchess Elector Electress Emperor Empress Governor Governess Heir Heiress Hunter Huntress Jew Jewess Lion Lioness Marquis Marchioness Master Mistress Patron Patroness Prince Princess Peer Peeress Prior Prioress Poet Poetess Prophet Prophetess Shepherd Shepherdess Sorcerer Sorceress Traitor Traitress Tutor Tutress Tiger Tigress Viscount Viscountess

There are a few whose feminine ends in ix, viz.