A _ground-nut_ is a _nut_ particularised by growing in the ground. _A nut-ground_ is a _ground_ particularised by producing nuts. A _finger-ring_, as distinguished from _ear-rings_, and from _rings_ in general (and so particularised), is a _ring_ for the _finger_. A _ring finger_, as distinguished from _fore-fingers_, and from _fingers_ in general (and so particularised), is a _finger_ whereon _rings_ are worn. s. 412. At times this rule seems to be violated. The words _spitfire_ and _daredevil_ seem exceptions to it. At the first glance it seems, in the case of a _spitfire_, that what he (or she) _spits_ is _fire_; and that, in the case of a _daredevil_, what he (or she) _dares_ is the _devil_. In this case the initial words _spit_ and _dare_, are particularised by the final ones _fire_ and _devil_. The true idea, however, confirms the original rule. A _spitfire_ voids his fire by spitting. A _daredevil_, in meeting the fiend, would not shrink from him, but would defy him. A _spitfire_ is not one who spits fire, but one whose fire is _spit_. A _daredevil_ is not one who dares even the devil, but one by whom the devil is even dared. s. 413. Of the two elements of a compound word, which is the most important? In one sense the latter, in another sense the former. The latter word is the most _essential_; since the general idea of _trees_ must exist before it can be defined or particularised; so becoming the idea which we have in _apple-tree_, _rose-tree_, &c. The former word, however, is the most _influential_. It is by this that the original idea is qualified. The latter word is the staple original element: the former is the superadded influencing element. Compared with each {357} other, the former element is active, the latter passive. Etymologically speaking, the former element, in English compounds, is the most important. s. 414. Most numerous are the observations that bear upon the composition of words; _e.g._, how nouns combine with nouns, as in _sunbeam_; nouns with verbs, as in _daredevil_, &c. It is thought sufficient in the present work to be content with, 1. defining the meaning of the term composition; 2. explaining the nature of some obscure compounds. Composition is the joining together, _in language_, of two _different words_, and _treating the combination as a single term_. Observe the words in italics. _In language._--A great number of our compounds, like the word _merry-making_, are divided by the sign -, or the hyphen. It is very plain that if all words _spelt_ with a hyphen were to be considered as compounds, the formation of them would be not a matter of speech, or language, but one of writing or spelling. This distinguishes compounds in language from mere printers' compounds. _Different._--In Old High German we find the form _selp-selpo_. Here there is the junction of two words, but not the junction of two _different_ ones. This distinguishes composition from gemination.--Grimm, Deutsche Grammatik, iii. 405.