to whom it will apply:  as, “A Nero;” that is, “Any Nero, or any cruel tyrant.”  Sometimes, however, this article before a proper name, seems to leave the idea still particular; but, if it really does so, the propriety of using it may be doubted:  as, “No, not by a John the Baptist risen from the dead.”—­Henry’s Expos., Mark, vi.  “It was not solely owing to the madness and depravity of a Tiberius, a Caligula, a Nero, or a Caracalla, that a cruel and sanguinary spirit, in their day, was so universal.”—­M’Ilvaine’s Evid., p. 398.

OBS. 6.—­With the definite article, the noun is applied, sometimes specifically, sometimes individually, but always definitely, always distinctively.  This article is demonstrative.  It marks either the particular individual, or the particular species,—­or, (if the noun be plural,) some particular individuals of the species,—­as being distinguished from all others.  It sometimes refers to a thing as having been previously mentioned; sometimes presumes upon the hearer’s familiarity with the thing; and sometimes indicates a limitation which is made by subsequent words connected with the noun.  Such is the import of this article, that with it the singular number of the noun is often more comprehensive, and at the same time more specific, than the plural.  Thus, if I say, “The horse is a noble animal,” without otherwise intimating that I speak of some particular horse, the sentence will be understood to embrace collectively that species of animal; and I shall be thought to mean, “Horses are noble animals.”  But if I say, “The horses are noble animals,” I use an expression so much more limited, as to include only a few; it must mean some particular horses, which I distinguish from all the rest of the species.  Such limitations should be made, whenever there is occasion for them; but needless restrictions displease the imagination, and ought to be avoided; because the mind naturally delights in terms as comprehensive as they may be, if also specific.  Lindley Murray, though not uniform in his practice respecting this, seems to have thought it necessary to use the plural in many sentences in which I should decidedly prefer the singular; as, “That the learners may have no doubts.”—­Murray’s Octavo Gram., Vol. i, p. 81.  “The business will not be tedious to the scholars.”—­Ib., 81.  “For the information of the learners.”—­Ib., 81.  “It may afford instruction to the learners.”—­Ib., 110.  “That this is the case, the learners will perceive by the following examples.”—­Ib., 326.  “Some knowledge of it appears to be indispensable to the scholars.”—­Ib., 335.