The words which we class under the head of Contractions, are so altered and disguised in their appearance, that their etymology and connexion are not generally understood.  It may appear like pedantry in me to attempt an investigation into their origin and meaning.  But to avoid that charge, I will frankly acknowledge the truth, and own my inability to do justice to this subject, by offering a full explanation of all the words which belong to this class.  I will be candid, if I am not successful.  But I think most of the words long considered difficult, may be easily explained; enough to convince you of the feasibility of the ground we have assumed, and furnish a sample by which to pursue the subject in all our future inquiries into the etymology of words.

But even if I fail in this matter, I shall have one comfort left, that I am not alone in the transgression; for no philologist, with few exceptions, has done any thing like justice to this subject.  Our common grammars have not even attempted an inquiry into the meaning of these words, but have treated them as tho they had none.  Classes, like pens or reservoirs, are made for them, into which they are thrown, and allowed to rest, only to be named, without being disturbed.  Sometimes, however, they are found in one enclosure, sometimes in another, more by mistake, I apprehend, than by intention; for “prepositions” under certain circumstances are parsed as “adverbs,” and “adverbs” as “adjectives,” and “conjunctions” as either “adverbs” or “prepositions;” and not unfrequently the whole go off together, like the tail of the dragon, drawing other respectable words along with them, under the sweeping cognomen of “adverbial phrases,” or “conjunctive expressions;” as, Can you write your lesson? Not yet quite well enough. “But and if that evil servant,"[21] etc.  Mr. Murray says, “the same word is occasionally used both as a conjunction and as an adverb, and sometimes as a preposition.

Let these words be correctly defined, their meaning be ferreted out from the rubbish in which they have been enclosed; or have their dismembered parts restored to them, they will then appear in their true character, and their connexion with other words will be found regular and easy.  Until such work is accomplished, they may as well be called contractions, for such they mostly are, as adverbs or any thing else; for that appellation we regard as more appropriate than any other.

In the attempts we are about to make, we shall endeavor to be guided by sound philosophic principles and the light of patient investigation; and whatever advances we may make shall be in strict accordance with the true and practical use of these words.

Let us begin with Adverbs.