The combination of these different words was produced by habit, to avoid the monotony which the frequent recurrence of one word, so necessary in the expression of thought, would occasion:  the same as the past tense of go is made by the substitution of another word radically different, went, the past tense of wend or wind.  “O’er hills and dales they wend their way.”  “The lowing herd wind slowly o’er the lea.” Go and wend convey to our minds nearly the same ideas.  The latter is a little more poetical, because less used.  But originally their signification was quite different.  So with the parts of the verb =to be=.  They were consolidated as a matter of convenience, and now appear in their respective positions to express the idea of being, life, or existence.

I have said this verb expresses the highest degree of action.  I will now attempt to prove it.  I should like to go into a labored and critical examination of the words, and trace their changes thro various languages, was it in accordance with the design of these lectures.  But as it is not, I shall content myself with general observations.

I am.

This word is not defined in our dictionaries.  It is only said to be “the first person of to be.”  We must look for its meaning some where else.  It is a compound of two ancient words, ah, breath, to breathe, life, to live, light, to light; and ma, the hand, or to hand.  It signifies to vivify, sustain, or support one’s self in being or existence.  In process of time, like other things in this mutable world, its form was changed, but the meaning retained.  But as one person could not vivify or live another, inflate another’s lungs, or breathe another’s breath, it became restricted to the first person.  It means, I breathe breath, vivify myself, live life, or exercise the power of being or living.  It conveys this fact in every instance, for no person incapable of breathing can say I am.  Let any person pronounce the word ah-ma, and they will at once perceive the appropriateness of the meaning here given.  It is very similar to the letter h, and the pronoun, (originally noun,) he, or the “rough breathing” in the Greek language. Ma is compounded with many words which express action done by the hand; as, manufacture, manumit.  It denoted any action or work done by the hand as the instrument; but, like other words, it gradually changed its import, so as to express any effective operation.  Hence the union of the words was natural and easy, and ahma denoted breathing, to live or sustain life. H is a precarious letter in all languages that use it, as the pronunciation of it by many who speak the English language, will prove.  It was long ago dropt, in this word, and after it the last a, so that we now have the plain word am.