Innema (inn-ema), Inmost (in-m-ost). Ûtema (ût-ma), Outmost (out-m-ost). Siðema (sið-ema), Latest. Lætema (læt-ema), Latest. Niðema (nið-ema), Nethermost (neth-er-m-ost). Forma (for-ma), Foremost (fore-m-ost). Æftema (aft-ema), Aftermost (aft-er-m-ost). Ufema (uf-ema), Upmost (up-m-ost). Hindema (hind-ema), Hindmost (hind-m-ost). Midema (mid-ema), Midmost (mid-m-ost). Now the words in question show at once, that, as far as they are concerned, the m that appears in the last syllable of each has nothing to do with the word _most_. From the words in question there was formed, in Anglo-Saxon, a regular superlative form in the usual manner; viz., by the addition of -st; as _æfte-m-est_, _fyr-m-est_, _læte-m-est_, _sið-m-est_, _yfe-m-est_, _ute-m-est_, _inne-m-est_. Hence, in the present English, the different parts of the syllable _most_ (in words like _upmost_) come from different quarters. The m is the m in the Anglo-Saxon words _innema_, &c.; whilst the -st is the common sign of the superlative. Hence, in separating such words as _midmost_ into its component parts, we should write Mid-m-ost _not_ mid-most. Ut-m-ost -- ut-most. Up-m-ost -- up-most. Fore-m-ost -- fore-most. In-m-ost -- in-most. Hind-m-ost -- hind-most. Out-m-ost -- out-most. § 260. In certain words, however, the syllable _m-ost_ is added to a word already ending in -er; that is, already marked with the sign of the comparative degree. Neth-er-m-ost. Hind-er-m-ost. Utt-er-m-ost. Out-er-m-ost. Upp-er-m-ost. Inn-er-m-ost. * * * * * CHAPTER XII. THE CARDINAL NUMBERS. § 261. Generally speaking, the greater part of the cardinal numbers are undeclined. As far as _number_ goes, this is necessary. _One_ is naturally and exclusively _singular_. _Two_ is naturally _dual_. The rest are naturally and exclusively _plural_. As to the inflection of gender and case, there is no reason why all the numerals should not be as fully inflected as the Latin _unus, una, unum_, _unius_. It is a mere habit of our language that they are not so in English. * * * * * CHAPTER XIII. THE ORDINAL NUMBERS. § 262. By referring to § 259, we see that -m was an early sign of the superlative degree. This bears upon the numerals _seven_, _nine_, and _ten_. These are _cardinal_ numbers. Nevertheless, the present chapter is the proper place for noticing them. There is good reason for believing that the final -n is no part of the original root. Thus,-- a. _Sev-en_ = the Latin _sept-em_, where the -m is equivalent to the -n. But in the Greek ἑπτὰ, and the Scandinavian _syv_, and _sju_, neither -n nor -m occur. b. _Ni-ne_.--This same applies here. The Latin form is _nov-em_; but the Greek and Norse are ἐννέα and _niu_.