Chapter Introduction of Prelims by Roget's Thesaurus

thrown among combustible materials, has kindled the flames of deadly warfare, and changed the destiny of an empire.

In constructing the following system of classification of the ideas which are expressible by language, my chief aim has been to obtain the greatest amount of practical utility. I have accordingly adopted such principles of arrangement as appeared to me to be the simplest and most natural, and which would not require, either for their comprehension or application, any disciplined acumen, or depth of metaphysical or antiquarian lore. Eschewing all needless refinements and subtleties, I have taken as my guide the more obvious characters of the ideas for which expressions were to be tabulated, arranging them under such classes and categories as reflection and experience had taught me would conduct the inquirer most readily and quickly to the object of his search. Commencing with the ideas expresing mere abstract relations, I proceed to those which relate to the phenomena of the material world, and lastly to those in which the mind is concerned, and which comprehend intellect, volition, and feeling; thus establishing six primary Classes of Categories.

1. The first of these classes comprehends ideas derived from the more general and Abstract Relations among things, such as Existence, Resemblance, Quantity, Order, Number, Time, Power.

2. The second class refers to Space and its various relations, including Motion, or change of place.

3. The third class includes all ideas that relate to the Material World; namely, the Properties of Matter, such as Solidity, Fluidity, Heat, Sound, Light, and the Phenomena they present, as well as the simple Perceptions to which they give rise.

4. The fourth class embraces all ideas of phenomena relating to the Intellect and its operations; comprising the Acquisition, the Retention, and the Communication of Ideas.

5. The fifth class includes the ideas derived from the exercise of Volition; embracing the phenomena and results of our Voluntary and Active Powers; such as Choice, Intention, Utility, Action, Antagonism, Authority, Compact, Property, etc.

6. The sixth and last class comprehends all ideas derived from the operation of our Sentient and Moral Powers; including our Feelings, Emotions, Passions, and Moral and Religious Sentiments.²

The further subdivisions and minuter details will be best understood from an inspection of the Tabular Synopsis of Categories prefixed to the work, in which are specified the several topics or heads of signification, under which the words have been arranged. By the aid of this table, the reader will, with a little practice, readily discover the place which the particular topic he is in search of occupies in the series; and on turning to the page in the body of the work which contains it, he will find the group of expressions he requires, out of which he may cull those that are most appropriate to his purpose. For the convenience of reference, I have designated each separate group or heading by a particular number; so that if, during the search, any doubt or difficulty should occur, recourse may be had to the copious alphabetical index of words in the second volume, which will at once indicate the number of the required group.³

The object I have proposed to myself in this work would have been but imperfectly attained if I had confined myself to a mere catalogue of words, and had omitted the numerous phrases and forms of expression, composed of several words, which are of such frequent use as to entitle them to rank among the constituent parts of the language.⁴ Very few of these verbal combinations, so essential to the knowledge of our native tongue, and so profusely abounding in its daily use, are to be met with in ordinary dictionaries. These phrases and forms of expression I have endeavoured diligently to collect and to insert in their proper places, under the general ideas they are designed to convey. Some of these conventional forms, indeed, partake of the nature of proverbial expressions but actual proverbs, as such, being wholly of a didactic character, do not come within the scope of the present work; and the reader must therefore not expect to find them here inserted.