1. _Right and left_--supply _hand_. This is, probably, a real ellipsis. The words _right_ and _left_, have not yet become true substantives; inasmuch as they have no plural forms. In this respect, they stand in contrast with _bitter_ and _sweet_; inasmuch as we can say _he has tasted both the bitters and sweets of life_. Nevertheless, the expression can be refined on. 2. _All fours._--_To go on all fours._ No ellipsis. The word _fours_, is a true substantive, as proved by its existence as a plural. From expressions like [Greek: poterion psuchrou] (Matt. xiv. 51), {403} from the Greek, and _perfundit gelido_ (understand _latice_), from the Latin, we find that the present ellipsis was used with greater latitude in the classical languages than our own. s. 490. _Proper names can only be used in the singular number._--This is a rule of logic, rather than of grammar. When we say _the four Georges_, _the Pitts and Camdens_, &c., the words that thus take a plural form, have ceased to be proper names. They either mean-- 1. The persons called _George_, &c. 2. Or, persons so like _George_, that they may be considered as identical. s. 491. _Collocation._--In the present English, the genitive case always precedes the noun by which it is governed--_the man's hat_=_hominis pileus_; never _the hat man's_=_pileus hominis_. * * * * * {404} CHAPTER III. SYNTAX OF ADJECTIVES. s. 492. _Pleonasm._--Pleonasm can take place with adjectives only in the expression of the degrees of comparison. Over and above the etymological signs of the comparative and superlative degrees, there may be used the superlative words _more_ and _most_. And this pleonasm really occurs-- _The_ more serener _spirit_. _The_ most straitest _sect_. These are instances of pleonasm in the strictest sense of the term. s. 493. _Collocation._--As a general rule, the adjective precedes the substantive--_a good man_, not _a man good_. When, however, the adjective is qualified by either the expression of its degree, or accompanied by another adjective, it may follow the substantive-- A man _just and good_. A woman _wise and fair_. A hero _devoted to his country_. A patriot _disinterested to a great degree_. _Single simple_ adjectives thus placed after their substantive, belong to the poetry of England, and especially to the ballad poetry--_sighs profound_--_the leaves green_. s. 494. _Government._--The only adjective that governs a case, is the word _like_. In the expression, _this is like him_, &c., the original power of the dative remains. This we infer-- 1. From the fact that in most languages which have {405} inflections to a sufficient extent, the word meaning _like_ governs a dative case. 2. That if ever we use in English any preposition at all to express similitude, it is the preposition _to_--_like to me_, _like to death_, &c.