and “two times” for twice, seem puerile expressions:  they are not often used by competent teachers. Thrice is a good word, but more elegant than popular.  Above twice, we use the phrases, three times, four times, and the like, which are severally composed of a numeral adjective and the noun times.  If these words were united, as some think they ought to be, the compounds would be adverbs of time repeated; as, threetimes, fourtimes, &c., analogous to sometimes.  Each word would answer, as each phrase now does, to the question, How often? These expressions are taken by some as having a direct adverbial relation to the terms which they qualify; but they are perhaps most commonly explained as being dependent on some preposition understood.  See Obs. 1st on Rule 5th, and Obs. 6th on Rule 7th.

OBS. 25.—­In multiplying one only, it is evidently best to use a singular verb:  as, “Twice naught is naught;”—­“Three times one is three.”  And, in multiplying any number above one, I judge a plural verb to be necessary:  as, “Twice two are four;”—­“Three times two are six;” because this number must be just so many in order to give the product.  Dr. Bullions says, “We should say, ‘Three times two is six,’ because the meaning is, ‘Two taken three times is six.’” This is neither reasoning, nor explanation, nor good grammar.  The relation between “two” and “three,” or the syntax of the word “times,” or the propriety of the singular verb, is no more apparent in the latter expression than in the former.  It would be better logic to affirm, “We should say, ’Three times two are six;’ because the meaning is, ’Two (units), taken for, to, or till three times, are six.’” The preposition till, or until, is sometimes found in use before an expression of times numbered; as, “How oft shall I forgive? till seven times?  I say not unto thee, Until seven times; but, Until seventy times seven.”—­Matt., xviii, 21.  But here is still a difficulty with repect to the multiplying term, or the word “times.”  For, unless, by an unallowable ellipsis, “seventy times seven,” is presumed to mean, “seventy times of seven,” the preposition Until must govern, not this noun “times.” expressed, but an other, understood after “seven;” and the meaning must be, “Thou shalt forgive him until seventy-times seven times;” or—­“until seven times taken for, to, or till, seventy times.”