With these preliminaries we may understand Dr. Johnson's explanation of the word etymology. "ETYMOLOGY, n. s. (_etymologia_, Lat.) ἔτυμος (_etymos_) _true, and_ λόγος (_logos_) _a word_. "1. _The descent or derivation of a word from its original; the deduction of formations from the radical word; the analysis of compounds into primitives._ "2. _The part of grammar which delivers the inflections of nouns and verbs."_ * * * * * CHAPTER II ON GENDER. § 180. How far is there such a thing as _gender_ in the English language? This depends upon the meaning that we attach to the word. In the Latin language we have the words _taurus_ = _bull_, and _vacca_ = _cow_. Here the natural distinction of _sex_ is expressed by _wholly_ different words. With this we have corresponding modes of expression in English: e.g., _Male._ _Female._ | _Male._ _Female._ | Bachelor Spinster. | Horse Mare. Boar Sow. | Ram Ewe. Boy Girl. | Son Daughter. Brother Sister. | Uncle Aunt. Buck Doe. | Father Mother, &c. The mode, however, of expressing different sexes by _wholly_ different words is not a matter of _gender_. The words _boy_ and _girl_ bear no _etymological_ relation to each other; neither being derived from the other, nor in any way connected with it. § 181. Neither are words like _cock-sparrow_, _man-servant_, _he-goat_, &c., as compared with _hen-sparrow_, _maid-servant_, _she-goat_, &c., specimens of _gender_. Here a difference of sex is indicated by the addition of a fresh term, from which is formed a compound word. § 182. In the Latin words _genitrix_ = _a mother_, and _genitor_ = _a father_, we have a nearer approach to _gender_. Here the difference of sex is expressed by a difference of termination; the words _genitor_ and _genitrix_ being in a true etymological relation, i.e., either derived from each other, or from some common source. With this we have, in English corresponding modes of expression: e.g. _Male._ _Female._ | _Male._ _Female._ | Actor Actress. | Lion Lioness. Arbiter Arbitress. | Peer Peeress. Baron Baroness. | Poet Poetess. Benefactor Benefactress. | Sorcerer Sorceress. Count Countess. | Songster Songstress. Duke Duchess. | Tiger Tigress. § 183. This, however, in strict grammatical language, is an approach to gender rather than _gender_ itself; the difference from true grammatical gender being as follows:-- Let the Latin words _genitor_ and _genitrix_ be declined:--