s. 429. Forms like _tip_, from _top_, _price_ and _prize_, &c., are of importance in general etymology. Let it be received as a theory (as with some philologists is really the case) that fragmentary sounds like the _-en_ in _whiten_, the _-th_ in _strength_, &c., were once _words_; or, changing the expression, let it be considered that all derivation was once composition. Let this view be opposed. The first words that are brought to militate against it are those like _tip_ and _prize_, where, instead of any _addition_, there is only _a change_; and, consequently, no vestiges of an older _word_. This argument, good as far as it goes, is rebutted in the following manner. Let the word _top_ have attached to it a second word, in which second word there is a small vowel. Let this small vowel act upon the full one in _top_, changing it to _tip_. After this, let the second word be ejected. We then get the form _tip_ by the law of accommodation, and not as an immediate sign of derivation. The _i_ in _chick_ (from _cock_) may be thus accounted for, the _-en_ in _chicken_ being supposed to have exerted, first, an influence of accommodation, and afterwards to have fallen off. The _i_ in _chick_ may, however, be accounted for by simple processes. s. 430. In words like _bishopric_, and many others mentioned in the last chapter, we had compound words under the appearance of derived ones; in words like _upmost_, and many others, we have derivation under the appearance of composition. * * * * * {371} CHAPTER XXXIII. ADVERBS. s. 431. _Adverbs._--The adverbs are capable of being classified after a variety of principles. Firstly, they may be divided according to their meaning. In this case we speak of the adverbs of time, place, number, manner. This division is logical rather than etymological. A division, however, which although logical bears upon etymology, is the following:-- _Well, better, ill, worse._--Here we have a class of adverbs expressive of degree, or intensity. Adverbs of this kind are capable of taking an inflection, _viz._, that of the comparative and superlative degrees. _Now, then, here, there._--In the idea expressed by these words there are no degrees of intensity. Adverbs of this kind are incapable of taking any inflection. Words like _better_ and _worse_ are adjectives or adverbs as they are joined to nouns or verbs. Adverbs differ from nouns and verbs in being susceptible of one sort of inflection only, _viz._, that of degree. Secondly, adverbs may be divided according to their form and origin. This is truly an etymological classification.