This word, when written or pronounced _enow_, is regarded as a plural, and relates to _number_. In this sense it is employed in Northampton and other Midland counties, and is found in old writers. If the word was always pronounced _enow_, it must be long since. The distinction above hinted at prevailed in Waller's time, and he conforms to it in the examples quoted. Butler, in _Hudibras_, has both: "This b'ing professed we hope _enough_, And now go on where we left off.' Part i. canto 2. 44. Again, line 1153. of the same canto: "For though the body may creep through, The hands in grate are _enough_;" an apparent exception, but not really such. (See also canto 3. 117. 285., where it rhymes with "off," as also line 809. At line 739. it written _enow_, and rhymes with "blow.") And again, 873: "My loss of honour's great _enough_, Thou needst not brand it with a scoff." Other examples may be quoted from the same author. In a song, written upon the Restoration of Charles II., we have the following: "Were not contented, but grew rough, As though they had not won _enough_." _Loyal Arms_, vol. i. p. 244. In the _Lamentable Tragedy of Cambises_, written early in the reign of Elizabeth, the word occurs: "Gogs sides, knaves, seeing to fight ye be so rough, Defend yourselves, for I will give ye bothe _inough_." In _Lusty Juventus, a Morality_, temp. Edward VI., is the following: "Call them Papistes, hipocrites, and joyning of the plough; Face out the matter, and then good _ynough_." Here certainly the distinction disappears, as in the next and last example from _Candlemas Day_, "Ao. Do. 1512," where Joseph is speaking: "Take hym in your armys, Mary, I you pray, And of your swete mylke let him sowke _inowe_, Mawger Herowd and his grett fray: And as your spouse, Mary, I shall go with you." It would seem therefore, that this word has had its present pronunciation about three centuries. {604} Its derivation is directly from the Saxon _genoh_, but the root is found in many other languages, as the German, Dutch, Danish, &c. B. H. C. MR. WRIGHT supposes there has been a change in the pronunciation of this word, and inquires when it took place. Now, if my conjecture be correct, there may have been no change, and these are two words,--not one pronounced differently. Both the instances quoted by him are in conformity with my opinion, viz. that where the sense is "a sufficient _quantity_," either in substance, quality, or action, we should make use of _enough_; yet where a sufficient _number_ is intended, we should pronounce and write _enow_. I recollect (being a native of Suffolk) that I was laughed at by the boys of a school in a western county, nearly seventy years ago: but I was not then laughed out of my word, nor am I likely now to be argued out of it.