I have already spoken of adjectives in general, as derived from nouns and verbs, and was somewhat particular upon the class sometimes called prepositions, which describe one thing by its relation to another, produced by some action which has placed them in such relation.  We will now pass to examine a little more minutely into the character and use of certain adjectives, and the manner of their derivation.

We commence with those derived from nouns, both common and proper, which are somewhat peculiar in their character.  I wish you distinctly to bear in mind the use of adjectives.  They are words added to nouns to define or describe them.

Many words which name things, are used as adjectives, with out change; as, ox beef, beef cattle, paper books, straw hats, bonnet paper.  Others admit of change, or addition; as, nation_al_ character, a merci_ful_ (mercy-ful) man, a gloom_y_ prospect, a fam_ous_ horse, a gold_en_ ball.  The syllables which are added, are parts of words, which are at first compounded with them, till, by frequency of use, they are incorporated into the same word.  “A merci_ful_ man” is one who is full of mercy.  A gold_en_ ball is one made of gold.  This word is sometimes used without change; as, a gold ring.

A numerous portion of these words take the syllable ly, contracted from like, which is still retained in many words; as, Judas-like, lady-like, gentleman-like.  These two last words, are of late, occasionally used as other words, lady_ly_, gentleman_ly_; but the last more frequently than the former.  She behaved very ladi_ly_, or lady_like_; and his appearance was quite gentleman_ly_.  But to say ladi_ly_ appearance, does not yet sound quite soft enough; but it is incorrect only because it is uncommon.  God_ly_ and god_like_ are both in use, and equally correct, with a nice shade of difference in meaning.

All grammarians have found a difficulty in the word like, which they were unable to unravel.  They could never account for its use in expressing a relation between two objectives.  They forgot that to be like, one thing must be likened to another, and that it was the very meaning of this word to express such like_ness_.  John looks like his brother.  The looks, the countenance, or appearance of John, are likened to his brother’s looks or appearance.  “This machine is more like the pattern than any I have seen.”  Here the adjective like takes the comparative degree, as it is called, to show a nearer resemblance than has been before observed between the things compared.  “He has a statesman-like appearance.”  I like this apple, because it agrees with my taste; it has qualities like my notion of what is palateable.”  In every situation the word is used to express likeness between two things.  It describes one thing by its likeness to another.